Where Are Those Tax Dollars Going?

Small business owners keep a close eye on expenses. But, of course, a big chunk of change gets sucked away in taxes, and lost in the big, wasteful mess known as government.

To get a better idea of how our hard-earned money is being wasted, a handy book published each year from Citizens Against Government Waste is the Congressional Pig Book.

The 2008 edition is out. In the press statement, the group noted: “In fiscal year 2008, Congress stuffed 11,610 projects (the second highest total ever) worth $17.2 billion into the 12 appropriations bills. That is a 337 percent increase over the 2,658 projects in fiscal year 2007, and a 30 percent increase over the $13.2 billion total in fiscal year 2007. Alaska led the nation with $556 in pork per capita ($380 million total), followed by Hawaii with $221 ($283 million) and North Dakota with $208 ($133 million). CAGW has identified $271 billion in total pork since 1991.”

A few highlights – or more accurately, lowlights – were:

• $3 million for The First Tee;

• $1,950,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service; 

• $460,752 for hops research; 

• $211,509 for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France; 

• $196,000 for the renovation and transformation of the historic Post Office in Las Vegas;

• $188,000 for the Lobster Institute in Maine;
•
 $148,950 for the Montana Sheep Institute.

Nonetheless, some in government have the nerve to say budgets have been cut to the bone. Oh please!