[Mb-civic] Road Bill Reflects The Power Of Pork - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

Road Bill Reflects The Power Of Pork

White House Drops Effort to Rein In Hill

By Jonathan Weisman and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, August 11, 2005; Page A01

Three years ago, President Bush went to war against congressional pork. 
His official 2003 budget even featured a color photo of a wind-powered 
ice sled -- an example of the pet projects and alleged boondoggles he 
said he would no longer tolerate.

Yesterday, Bush effectively signed a cease-fire -- critics called it 
more like a surrender -- in his war on pork. He signed into law a $286 
billion transportation measure that contains a record 6,371 pet projects 
inserted by members of Congress from both parties.

At a short bill-signing event in Montgomery, Ill., Bush said the new law 
will allow the United States to modernize highways and roads in a 
fiscally responsible manner. "I'm proud to be here to sign this 
transportation bill, because our economy depends on us having the most 
efficient, reliable transportation system in the world," Bush said at a 
Caterpillar Inc. manufacturing plant.

Bush brushed aside pleas from taxpayer groups to veto the bill, which 
exceeded the $284 billion limit that he had vowed not to cross. The vast 
majority of the measure is geared toward road construction and public 
transit projects, with the money doled out over five years according to 
formulas designed to provide state and local governments considerable 
flexibility, Transportation Department officials said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/10/AR2005081000223.html?nav=hcmodule

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