Deficit Spending: Hawaii Leads Pork Per Capita At $251 ($326M)

By Ashley Jones on April 17, 2010, 6:33 am Posted in Economy News

Americans think of Hawaii as a pleasant vacation spot. It allows people from colder climates to get away from the snow, sleet and the cold of the winter. When people think of pork products associated with Hawaii, they do not think of excessive and unnecessary government spending. The most common image is that of a suckling pig with an apple in its mouth. The latest Pig Book put out by the watchdog group for Citizens for Government Waste may change that image.

Hawaii Leads the Nation in Pork Barrel Projects

Citizens of Hawaii received the largest per capita share of government spending in 2009. The $326 million dollars the federal government spent in the state comes to about $251 per person. North Dakota, West Virginia and Alaska earned the top four spots on the list. Hawaii replaced Alaska as the number one spot after Senator Ted Stevens left Alaska.

Leslie Paige, who leads citizens for government waste, was relieved to see a reduction in the number of pork projects. Paige wants to see a greater amount of restraint when it comes to congressman and senators requesting appropriations for federal spending. Because the federal deficit is rising rapidly, she believes that congress and senators will eventually be required to cut spending.

 

Some Good News In The Pig Book

The number of Oinker awards given out as well as the total of projects that made the list was smaller in the most recent pig book than it was in previous years. Wasteful spending projects are supported by Republicans and Democrats. The number one spot on the list for requesting the most unnecessary spending was a Republican. A democrat earned the number two spot on the list of people asking for and getting unnecessary amounts of congressional spending.

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