Wednesday, September 21, 2005

If pigs could fly

Ron Utt and others recently proposed that highway appropriations pork be diverted to Katrina relief and repairs. I blogged about the news from Montana last week that their state politicos had agreed to do just that. John McCain is on board -- and so is Nancy Pelosi!

This morning's WSJ editorial on the matter ("Cuts for Katrina") points us to the Porkbusters website (truthlaidbear.com/porkbusters.php). It shows a very long roster of Congress people not yet heard from.

If significant sums are diverted, there is little assurance that they will be spent wisely. It may be zero-sum pork (new pork at the expense of old pork) but it may also be better. Who would have thought that giving back "earmarks" would even be on the table?