For as long as we’ve been watching politics, Republicans have rightly railed against pork-barrel spending—i.e., congressional “earmarks,” which are federal dollars for projects in members’ districts. Some of the projects are so absurd they gained national headlines, such as the infamous $320-million “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska.
Most earmarks are for basic infrastructure, but which really ought to be funded by local and state governments. Democrats have generally supported pork spending, but both parties end up wallowing in it. The DOGE (Department of Governmental Efficiency) targeted pork, but Bloomberg reported that a record-setting number of GOP earmarks survived the budget process.
These little projects add up across 435 congressional districts nationwide. The watchdog group Citizens for Government Waste recently reported that “pork-barrel spending hit a record $18.5 billion last year.” The problem is endemic in “conservative” Orange County, too.
This newspaper reported that OC’s delegation requested more than $190 million in funds for next year. OC’s pork king is Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana, who asked for $46 million, which includes a $7.5-million request for an “adaptive” playground in Fullerton. We’re not sure what that means, but city playgrounds ought to be paid for by city taxpayers. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Whittier (her district includes La Habra), was the most frugal, with $6.5 million in requests. Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, asked for $10 million for lane-widening projects.
Indeed, most requests are for road-related improvements. Lawmakers also want to fund some public-safety projects, including an operation center to support policing efforts. Other dollars go to fire agencies and recreational projects. But even when the feds finance reasonable items, such funding promotes fancier-than-necessary projects and limits pencil-sharpening.
The most bizarre project in the bunch is Irvine Democrat Dave Min’s request for $1.5 million for a Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to promote “sustainable economic growth in the region.” If Congress wants to cut, this should be on the chopping block.
Overall, OC’s requests aren’t that unusual—but that’s the problem. A hundred million here, a hundred million there and soon you’re talking real money.
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