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‘Pork’ funding is all relative
Published Tuesday, March 2, 2010
When it comes to government, there is a fine line between “pork” and “bacon.”
We want Ohio’s leaders in Washington, D.C. to bring home the proverbial “bacon” even though others may look at these as “pork” projects that are just about throwing something to a district primarily to help win votes.
That couldn’t be farther from the truth when it comes to the wish list in the city of Ironton.
The projects for which the city has requested funding are vital infrastructure improvements that will lead to job creation and stimulating the economy in Ironton and Lawrence County.
While all of these likely won’t get funding, all are valid requests that would allow the city to move forward on some key projects that may never happen without federal and state assistance.
The five projects are: Riverfront development, the Ironton floodwall pump station rehabilitation, North Ironton Sewer separation, the Park Avenue/Ninth Street Infrastructure revitalization that could pave the way for development there and restoring the Ro-Na Theatre and developing a Cultural Arts Center.
Each of these could have a profound impact on the city. All five together would absolutely help reshape Ironton’s future.
We hope Rep. Charlie Wilson and Senators Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich can do their part to help this funding become more than just wishful thinking.
Call it “pork” or “bacon” or whatever else you like, but the table would be set for Ironton’s future.
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Comments
Posted by payson (anonymous) on March 2, 2010 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"pork" appropriations, appointments,etc., made by the government for political reasons rather than for public benefit, as for public buildings, river improvements, etc. "bring home the bacon" to provide for material needs; earn a living...If "pork" can provide job opportunities for locals and not awards to outside contractors, I'm all for this method of "bringing home the bacon...HOME, meaning Ironton, being the key word here...
Posted by jimmer (anonymous) on March 3, 2010 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pork projects cost every man woman and child in the 6Th district 96.50 in 2009 for a family of 4 that adds up to 386.00.
In your artical you said you hoped our represenatives could bring enough home to handle projects and create jobs.
80 million dollars were sucked out of this district last year for pork, 7.9 million came back ,a large portion was federal highway having more to do with O.D.O.T. then any reps.
Another large chunk went to green jobs, which at first you say "hey it's needed,and it did create jobs,RIGHT?"and then you remember we are setting on one of the largest coal and natural gas deposits in the world and suddenly those two green jobs don't look as good.
Yet another large chunk was divid up between most of the sherriffs offices in the district,and you think "Well there you go, Our reps took care of our saftey" and then you see that every sherriff office in nearly every district got the same amount ,"It was a fire sale !"By now your thinking yea but what about the other projects in the district so you go to your computer and google the projects and the people involved to discover --- very little of our money actualy stayed in the district.
$80 million in a private district fund would have built one heck of nice river front and then some.
The top 30 reps took home 73% of the pork dollars in 2009
your left wondering if our guys even made it to the same room ,they certaintly were not at the table .
Posted by jimmer (anonymous) on March 4, 2010 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Earmarks or pork, were intended to help the districts that are economicly hurting.Despite the fact that our district has one of the highest unemployment rates, we get crumbs compared to the majority of the other districts in every state.
You wouldn't pay good money for a meal at an establishment that brings you a plate full of crumbs.Why vote for Reps. that DO.
Posted by payson (anonymous) on March 4, 2010 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jimmer, you are certainly well informed. Thanks for the eye opener. Looks like it all goes back to the VOTE, We do need some new, youngbloods, with fresh ideas ...not the same ol' same ol'.
Posted by jonferguson (anonymous) on March 8, 2010 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Republicans amuse me with their "stand up against pork spending" toutings. Mitch McConnell barely got re-elected last time, and only tipped the scales when he ran ads touting how he brought over $500 million to Kentucky in federal discretionary funds (pork)
Posted by SteveLeach (anonymous) on March 8, 2010 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jon it is not republicans saying dont do it then do it ought to be about us saying enough is enough and stop wasting our money because the clowns in govt sure arent paying for anything and in some cases not even their taxes yet they are quick to waste our money. Until people realize the problem isnt a party problem but a govt problem then people like this will continue to be elected by blind sheep believing everything they say, so you that vote just by party and blame everything on the other guys quit complaining you get what you deserve, stand up and say no more, use the power of your vote to get people in there who care about us!!!
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on March 8, 2010 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jonferguson; Your post pertaining to pork spending is right on target. That is one of the primary reasons to have a well qualified, diplomatic, intelligent, personable and astute individual as your representative. In modern times the distinguished gentlemen from the state of West Virginia, the Honorable Senator Robert C. Byrd is the greatest. In fact, he will go down in history as one of the leading legislators this country ever had. He has been a God send for West Virginia and to a great extent to the rest of the country. He is a marvel to watch and observe. Senator Mitch McConnell of The Commonwealth Of Kentucky is not worthy to carry Bob Byrd"s shoes, although he has brought home some Pork to the Commonwealth. He has not contributed anything worthwhile to the rest of the country. I concur with your amusement concerning Republicans on this particular issue.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on March 8, 2010 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tribune Editorial Board; An excellent article and to the point. Your representatives need to be held responsible. Ironton deserves and needs some "Pork". It is rather amusing to see people get upset over the idea of "Pork". This has been a political reality since the beginning of time. This is something we must learn to live and work with. It is not going away, it is basic to the human condition.
Posted by jonferguson (anonymous) on March 9, 2010 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SteveLeach,
The money has been, and will be used for projects across the country. That hasn't, and will not change. What changes is the distribution proportions. And the only way that changes is by electing someone who will go to Washington, and fight to get our area as much of that pie as possible. Whining about it, and wishing it didn't happen, would result in less local business, poorer people, worse infrastructure, and an overall degrade as a community.
Why would anyone NOT want our area to get a large portion of the Federal money? That's just absurd.
Posted by SteveLeach (anonymous) on March 11, 2010 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My problem is the wasted money such as the money murtha percured for an airport in his district that served only a handful of people and yet rec millions of our dollars, I understand that some of these projects are necessary but how much could be saved by not wasting it on ridiculous projects. Do you want to see money come to our are that is just thrown away on bottomless pit projects that really benefit no one. If we dont hold them accountable and just say give us a piece without really seeing a benefit then we are getting what we deserve but me for one want some accountability from both parties on there actions and stop giving them a blank check to write whatever crappy project they want just so they can say I got this area x amount of dollars. WASTE WASTE WASTE is a major problem and that is a fact. I would think that you would no the difference between whining and facing facts.
Posted by mickakers (John Michael Akers) on March 11, 2010 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SteveLeach; I concur! There is a lot of "WASTE WASTE WASTE" and mismanagement of Public funds. Public Servants should be held accountable. It is up to us the Electorate, to see they are.
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