Top 10 wasteful earmarks on stimulus bill

February 28, 1:48 AMBusiness and Finance ExaminerMarv Dumon

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Senator John McCain (AP photo)

During the 2008 election cycle, presidential candidates from both parties spent much time raising the issue of reducing or altogether eliminating wasteful government / congressional spending otherwise known as earmarks - those attachments on bills typically directing federal dollars for pet projects on local districts. 

Sen. John McCain, in particular, has been a loud vocal critic against government pork.  Especially in very difficult times for many Americans, this issue can pick up steam throughout 2009 as the new Administration attempts to push through various important legislation through Congress.  Recently, Senator McCain's Facebook page published 10 spending items it deemed as particularly wasteful. 

And if I may, momentarily hallucinate as a fiscal conservative, contribute some personal commentary.

The Top 10:

10. $1.7 million "for a honey bee factory" in Weslaco, TX

Nothing takes out the "sting" of the weak economy than drinking coffee sweetened with (government funded) honey.

9. $475,000 to build a parking garage in Provo City, Utah

We assume this is parking that is NOT needed.  Federal money for a local town's parking garage?  Don't local folks pay for that?

8. $200,000 for a tattoo removal violence outreach program that could help gang members or others shed visible signs of their past

When money is tight, how about clothing?

7. $300,000 for the Montana World Trade Center

Terror alert.

6. $1 million for mormon cricket control in Utah

Earplugs.

5. $650,000 for beaver management in North Carolina and Mississippi

Hunting licenses make money.

4. $2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York

 When I was a kid, I used to watch "The Six Million Dollar Man."  Now, we have Wolverine.

3. $332,000 for the design and construction of a school sidewalk in Franklin, Texas

 Again, local.

2. $2 million “for the promotion of astronomy” in Hawaii

 Anyone can just look up at the sky at night while on one of Hawaii's beaches.

1. $1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa

 If it makes better pork chops, I support this one.

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Marv Dumon is a mid-market investment banker conveying operational experience with three public companies. He is also a business and finance columnist for Forbes.  Marv received his BA, BBA, and MPA degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact information at marvin.dumon@gmail.com.  You can subscribe to Marv's articles by clicking on the Subscribe button.