Tracing Taxpayers' Money To "Noah's Ark"

Half-Million Dollar Earmark Funds Play Park For Private Charity

(CBS)  With decaying bridges and crumbling highways sorely underfunded, Congress somehow found the money in last year's transportation budget to help build a boat that won't take you anywhere.

“To me, the ark is a community,” Uri Herscher tells CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

The ark is actually a children's play park, and Herscher its Noah. He heads up the Skirball Cultural Center, a private charity in Los Angeles.

Herscher asked Congressman Henry Waxman for federal tax dollars to help build the ark. Waxman replied by giving the ark money through a special earmark in, of all things, the transportation budget. An earmark is a grant of money made without the normal public review.

“The amount of money that the Skirball got for this project was very, very small. It was $550,000," says Rep. Waxman, D-Calif.

A half million dollars may be small change to members of Congress, but it's real money to most Americans. And you're picking up the tab for billions of dollars in earmarks like that every year.

Congressman Jeff Flake says the tax dollars in the transportation budget would be better spent on the nation's urgent transportation needs.

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Attkisson Blogs: Noah's Ark

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“I mean, we have an example recently of a bridge collapsing, and we have too little money going to critical items in the transportation bill like bridges or highways, and instead it's bled off to other things,” says Rep. Flake, R-Arizona.

What's more, the Skirball Center -- a complex of buildings -- hardly seems a needy case.

According to its most recent IRS filings from 2005, it's managed by executives earning six-figure salaries, has a more than $8 million payroll and boasts financial books that might be the envy of most any charity: $885 million in gross receipts (that's just for one year) and a $100 million endowment.

“They have over $200 million in net assets. Is that an organization that really needs the helping hand of federal taxpayers?" Attkisson asked.

“It's going to serve a very important interest in education in culture in the arts, teaching values to children," says Waxman. "I think that's well worth the money.”

It's definitely been worth it to the Skirball Center. Noah's Ark has been bringing in $16,000 in ticket sales per week since it opened last June. And no, taxpayers don't get a cut.

If you look carefully, you can see the hint of a rainbow that appears and fades at Noah's Ark. There's no pot of gold at the end… just your tax dollars.

[cadmbfan]

I would also like to ask Senator Waxman for some federal money for a charity of my own...... its called my mortgage !

[cadmbfan]

I would also like to ask Senator Waxman for some federal money for a charity of my own...... its called my mortgage ! and 550,000 would pay it off !

[cadmbfan]

I would also like to ask Senator Waxman for some federal money for a charity of my own...... its called my mortgage ! and 550,000 would pay it off !

[cadmbfan]

I would also like to ask Senator Waxman for some federal money for a charity of my own...... its called my mortgage ! and 550,000 would pay it off !

[why_not_nar]

My question is simpler. Why do entitlements exist at all? These bookmarks, what are they really for. Spending at any lever, 1/2m qualifies need to go through a budget approval process that probably includes the full house and the full senate? So, are these bookmarks legal? If not, why are they occurring at all?

[jesus_saves9]

Yeah, but the ark saved all god''s living creatures from the flood. What has a highway ever done?

[docpeter-2009]

Re: Jesus_Saves9,

You are not correct. The ark saved only two of each of God''s species except for man where 8 were saved.

While $500,000.00 isn''t a whole lot of money that can be spent on repair and updating our highway system; ask those who fled from hurricanes Katrina and Rita if they would have been better off with improved highways or a park in CA. I answer your question with a question: How many lives would have been lost in New Orleans without the highway system to get them out?

[flreason]

Another corrupt politician--this time a Democrat who is a self-styled crusader against corruption. How ironic! Apparently it''s only corruption if practiced by other party. Another poster child for independent candidates and/or term limits.

[likeitis5050]

Politicians can NOT be trusted. They simply can''t. They need committees to watch them while the middle class has to work like dogs to feed the poor, make sure the wealthy don''t break a sweat, and watch their hard earned money go bye-bye because of corruption throughout the political scene. And the consequences of defrauding and robbing taxpayers through deals like this is...what? What happens to people who steal? They go to jail. Except when they''re big time wheelers and dealers hooking up with politicians more than happy to steal for the sake of a vote.

Herscher needs to give it back...today...and Waxman needs to be sent packing...period. And then move on to the next corrupt under-the-table deal and get rid of that culprit...and on and on. It''s an infestation and nothing short of extermination is going to rid us of the parasites.

[abbe91]

"Re: Jesus_Saves9,

You are not correct. The ark saved only two of each of God''s species except for man where 8 were saved.
Posted by docpeter at 07:08 AM : Sep 21, 2007"

Jesus_Saves9, you were sarcastic, weren''t you ?

[tecama]

I think they should have to pay that money back with all the lovely profit they made, with interest. I am sure that the people that died in the bridge collapse and their families could think of a better way that money should have been spent. There are many more "earmarks". I would love to see more of them exposed and made to answer for this gross misuse of tax dollars.

[Krazcarl]

I''m the village idiot AGAIN. I knew there were pet projects but this is ridiculas. Favors were promised or hands were gressed period. I could see a nice park for the working in the inner city but this is a goverment grant to a business that isn''t even in trouble finacialy. I''ve always had trouble with charities that pay massive saleries to the mgt.

[jimbosouth]

Ah yes, the self-righteous Rep. Waxman. "It''s only $550,000." ??? Is this guy for real? Wonder if his snotty little moustache has actually grown into his brain? Maybe his Oversight Committe, of which he is actually the Chairman, ought to investigate him? Better use of taxpayers money than the self-serving "hearings" he is preaching about to any news outlet who will listen to him. Any possibility California could take him back?

[Krazcarl]

jesussaves_9...You were there have photos and comentary can prove this to be true. I have mountains in Fl. willing to sell cheap dry land safe and cheap. I believe my exwife liked me doesn''t make it true. Read The Epics Of Gilamosh told of a flood hundreds of years before the bible.

[realpatriot1]

Impeach Waxman!

[whispyseas]

'' ... to keep their fathers safe, the girls banned naked get well feed world men at the trail crossings, and replaced them instead with dressed get sick tax world girls ... now they refuse to send their fathers to the trail crossings because they are not safe though, statistically, the men have better odds with the 90,000 at the area trail crossings than with the 300 in the girls own traveling troupes ... ''

'' ... hundreds millions sick beds, small bunches with hundreds and tens thousands folk rallied round fertilizing and watering museums of molecules and microbes that web together the swimming drifting dirts and trees and folk and such ... ''

'' ... the greatist generation gave way to the ******* ***********, investing trillions in votes and dollars to play biological chemical nightmare as they wage wars in the schools and offices of their own ''illegitmate'' war babies ... ''

'' ... china and india are so massive they have but to crank out a low cost knick knack each per day to sap every dollar from every economy in the world, non charity and taxation are finished ... ''

[pashadc]

This is an example of very poor journalism--making associations where none should exist. Art are important. And, for once, tax dollars went towards something successful that makes a difference in the lives of children.