By: Joe Chidley
The new financial bailout package U.S. Congress is reportedly poised to vote on provides some good insight into how Washington works.
CB senior writer John Gray twigged me to the “earmarks” in the US$700-billion bill, all intended to get those broad-minded congressfolk onside with the program. The spending fest includes new or extended tax breaks for:
- Film and Television Productions (Sec. 502)
- Wooden Arrows designed for use by children (Sec. 503)
- a six-page package of earmarks for litigants in the 1989 Exxon Valdez
incident, Alaska (Sec. 504)
- Virgin Island and Puerto Rican Rum (Section 308)
- American Samoa (Sec. 309)
- Mine Rescue Teams (Sec. 310)
- Mine Safety Equipment (Sec. 311)
- Domestic Production Activities in Puerto Rico (Sec. 312)
- Indian Tribes (Sec. 314, 315)
- Railroads (Sec. 316)
- Auto Racing Tracks (317)
- the District of Columbia (Sec. 322)
- Wool Research (Sec. 325)
John asks: “What the hell is wool research?”
Even in the grip of the greatest crisis to shake the U.S. economy in 75 years, there is a little somethin’ left over for pork-barreling.
7 Responses to “ Bailout package pork ”
C’Mon John, you mean you haven’t heard about the wool researchers of America? We need to have finest threads possible. Pure sarcasm btw.
It looks like money will be squandered in places that are irrelevant. I was inclined to the bailout having a high degree of transparency. But now,I’m not too sure I even want to know where the money is going.
By OilyGasMiner on Oct 1, 2008
I’d like to announce the new Michael James Wool, Wooden Arrow, and Puerto Rican Rum Research Institute. How much money do I get?
By Michael James on Oct 1, 2008
The requirements for the wooden arrow tax exemption are actually quite severe. From the bill:
‘‘(B) EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN WOODEN
4 ARROW SHAFTS.—Subparagraph (A) shall not
5 apply to any shaft consisting of all natural
6 wood with no laminations or artificial means of
7 enhancing the spine of such shaft (whether sold
8 separately or incorporated as part of a finished
9 or unfinished product) of a type used in the
10 manufacture of any arrow which after its as11
sembly—
12 ‘‘(i) measures 5⁄16 of an inch or less in
13 diameter, and
14 ‘‘(ii) is not suitable for use with a bow
15 described in paragraph (1)(A).’’.
Good luck with your science project, Michael!
By Joe Chidley on Oct 1, 2008
Have a heart. The arrow industry needs help. This is part of their military revitalization.
By rob on Oct 2, 2008
Porky Pig says, “That’s All Folks!”
By Roger on Oct 2, 2008
McCain and Obama want to change Washington. Looks like they can’t handle the job to me. Please vote for someone else or write to them and sell your vote for cash. Where is my RUM!
By pete on Oct 6, 2008
Oh come on Rob, everyone knows the Canadian Military is the only one still using Bows and Arrows.
By dave on Oct 6, 2008