The U.S. House returns Tuesday to consider the latest installment of Hurricane Sandy disaster aid. The $17 billion base bill (H.R. 152) could grow by an extra $33 billion of pork-laden spending — without offsets. Heritage’s Patrick Louis Knudsen outlined what’s at stake with the spending package this morning. The Senate’s version of the …
A good test of whether the 113th Congress is likely to take budgeting seriously will come early this week, when the House considers the remainder of its Hurricane Sandy relief legislation. House conservatives are proposing several amendments that would cut enough spending to offset the $17 billion base bill (H.R. …
Last week, Congress passed a $9 billion Sandy relief bill, but they are also considering a supplemental $51 billion aid package that is loaded with pork and unnecessary spending. Join us on Friday, January 11, at noon ET for our “Lunch with Heritage” Google+ Hangout on the outrageous spending in the Sandy …
With a looming state budget deficit of nearly $13 million, many Illinois residents are wondering if their state has its priorities in order. Last night, ABC7 Chicago’s Chuck Goudie revealed $67 million in recent state payments (PDF) for a variety of pet projects. While the state wrestles with the ramifications of …
After enacting 93,000 earmarks at a cost of $200 billion over the past decade, lawmakers are finally taking the first steps to rein them in. First, House Democrats hinted they may announce a moratorium on earmarks to for-profit companies (while retaining them for non-profit organizations and state and local governments). …
Yet another controversy involving Congressional earmarks is brewing in Washington. This time around a lobbying firm, the PMA group (raided by the FBI in November), is accused of making fraudulent donations to members of Congress in exchange for federal pork directed toward their clients. Given mounting news reports of scandal …
While the Obama Administration waffles on openness and transparency (see here and here), private citizens are stepping in to fill the void. The Heritage Foundation and other groups launched ReadtheStimulus.org to give citizens a chance to work their way through the massive spending proposal, flag suspicious language, and make suggestions. …
