Word: pork
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...Byrd Amendment—a cynical piece of special-interest pork if there ever was one—will soon, with any luck, meet its well-deserved demise. The 2000 law gave the money raised from import duties on foreign steel to American steel companies, effectively adding another layer of trade protection in the form of an industry subsidy. But last week, the World Trade Organization (WTO) cleared the way for punitive sanctions against American exports, which will hopefully coerce the United States to trade freely and fairly in the future...
Hopefully this change will be instituted quickly, although in the past we have never failed to be amazed at how easily Congressional leaders fumble even the most obvious decisions, while still finding the time for three square meals of pork a day. But even once this immediate concern is met, the larger promise of free trade must not remain only a promise. The insidious propaganda and strategically placed political clout of industrial conglomerates may win the protectionists a battle here and there, but the future belongs to free trade...
...save $300 million next year, enough to hurt thousands of struggling students but hardly a major step toward closing the growing deficit. Forget about Pell Grants—if Republican lawmakers want to save taxpayers some real money on student financial assistance, they should take a look at the pork that passes for our federal student loan program...
...same time, the federal government is all too ready to devote large sums of money to grapefruit research, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and numerous other juicy pieces of pork loaded into the omnibus appropriations bill, sure to help some two-bit Congressman get elected...
...Pork-barrel politics is one thing when the federal government is running surplus a la Bill Clinton. But now that the country is facing a huge and dangerous budget deficit, Congress still passed an omnibus spending bill filled to the brim with gratuitous appropriations. In the wake of another bumper crop of cash for the unnecessary to the absurd in pet Congressional districts, some belt-tightening has to happen somewhere. Congress’ latest bright idea? Cut Pell Grants to poor college kids to make up some of the difference...