The Senate's King Of Pork - And Fish

(CBS)  Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, may be under federal investigation in his home state of Alaska, but that hasn't interfered with his Washington job. He's still spending money like there's no tomorrow, CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports. Not his money - yours.

How would Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense rank Stevens in terms of what kind of an earmarker he is?

"He's at the head of the pack," Ellis said. "His ability to bring home the bacon to Alaska is legendary and he doesn't make any bones about doing that."

Stevens gets his buying power from his staying power. With nearly four decades in the Senate, now at age 83, he's the longest-serving Republican senator in history.

Less than three months after the FBI searched his Alaska home in a bribery and public corruption probe, Stevens proved he hasn't lost an ounce of clout. He added an incredible $215 million in earmarks to the defense bill - more than any other senator.

An earmark is a grant of money without the normal public review. Thanks in large part to Stevens, sparsely populated Alaska outranks the rest of the nation - getting a disproportionate benefit when it comes to earmarks.

Texans get $98 per person worth of earmarks. New York's about the same. But when it comes to the Last Frontier state, so much federal money is pouring in to so few - it works out to more than $4,300 dollars per person.

What are some of the projects?

Well, it may not seem like a national priority, but more than $1 million has gone to try to create a market for salmon baby food: Alaska salmon baby food.

Stevens, known for funding Alaska's infamous "bridges to nowhere" is also behind what critics might call a "ferry to nowhere." He's earmarked $58 million so far to the ferry project that would serve a little-used port in Alaska.

Ever see a flying salmon? A jet was painted like a giant salmon with a half-million dollar grant from a non-profit group promoting Alaska seafood. Stevens steered tens of millions of dollars to the group - headed at the time by his own son Ben - from a federal fund to promote U.S. fish products.

The Senator wouldn't agree to talk to us, but his office told us: the baby food and salmon jet promote the Alaska seafood industry, which is in crisis, other states get similar earmarks for their industries, and that $58 million ferry will foster growth and create up to 200 jobs in Alaska.

The office also said that many Alaska earmarks are military-related and benefit the service members stationed there.

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Read the response sent to CBS News by Sen. Ted Stevens' spokesman in response to questions before the story aired (Oct. 10, 2007)

Couric & Co. Blog: Why Alaska's Not Left Out In The Cold

Watch Attkisson's extended interview with Steve Ellis

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Some members of Congress might say "we're just doing our job. We're supposed to bring home as much resources to our districts as we can," Attkisson said.

"Their job isn't to bring home every single thing that isn't bolted down here in Washington back to their home states," Ellis said.

Some would say that's what Stevens does best: turn federal dollars into pork - or fish - making the 49th state, No. 1 when it comes to those tantalizing earmarks.

[sjc_1]

The spending should be in the national interest. It should be something that benefits ALL Americans, because we ALL pay for it!

[bing62]

I honestly don''t fully understand what everyone has agains alaska when it comes to federal dollars spending. Please read this to help understand the growing need, wheather it is locally or out of your area code, to even out the idea of corperate america (mainly bush) spending our resources away from our country and do what''s best locally first. Why would you veto a increase in health care for our American childeren that are in a bad situation and ask congress for an increase in funding the war in Iraq, "Mission Accomplished"!

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9946871

[ov442]

maybe in honor of Mr. "Its a series of TUBES" Stevens, we should change the expression from Pork Barrel politics to Fish-Barrel politics.
How does "pork barrel" make any sense today anyway?
Flying Salmon politics.

[klingon69]

Stevens personifies the type of person who should not be returned to office. He is typical of those who only represent his state and does does not give a *** for the rest of the country.
Vote for term limits when available.
Vote OUT of office any politician, state or federal, who has spent more than two terms in office.
The Stevens, Byrd, Kennedy, Warner, et al, have outlived their duty to the entire country. Only feathering ones nest is not enough in this day and age. It is time for them to go.
The malingerers, feeding at the public trough for many years, should be replaced with younger people with more idealistic ideas. And then vote them out also after two terms, regardless of party.
Posted by tibu987 at 05:04 PM : Oct 13, 2007

I doubt any representative/senator cares that much about anything except keep their job. Thus the pork. If someone is funneling $$$ into your area, maybe employing many people, or helping a particular city/county/state, do you really believe those people are going to vote against him/her?
As for those feeding at the public trough, I have oftimes believed that those people should not be allowed to vote. If you are living on the gov''t dole, what are you going to vote for, someone who will cut benefits, or require stricter guidelines to be eligible, NO, you will vote for the status quo. Many on the public dole don''t pay any taxes, but have a role in determining where our tax dollars go.

[klingon69]

Well, we all know fear and hate are family values, but is corruption a family value too?
I guess so.
Posted by sparks224 at 03:09 PM : Oct 13, 2007
That would depend on the family. Children oftimes emulate their parents/guardians activities, whether by raising/training or self determination.

[armandbeni]

58 million dollars to create 200 jobs. You do the math...I''m going to the bathroom to throw up!

[oldpilot954]

Come on guys get real. While idealism is wonderful and statesmanship is what we really need, the majority of voters vote for one goal--"What can I get out of it?" Republicans vote for the person who will give them what they want whether it is business benefits or specific social issues. Democrats do exactly the same thing except, generally, aiming money in different directions. I agree Sen. Stevens shouldn''t get away with doing things that are illegal and he should be investigated. However, while some of those things are seemingly pointless, Alaska is different from most states since there is a large indigenous population, massive federal land holding, and many of the citizens have to make their annual salary in the 3 or 4 months of summer. Many communities are totally dependent on small aircraft for any outside supplies and therefore those supplies I drive to WalMart for have to be order in as air freight. If I were in his position, I''d be butchering a little pork myself.

[geezer62]

whispyseas....

Are you transmitting some sort of secret coded message or are you just a complete moron? Most of us out here who read these posts don''t possess a secret decoder ring so please give us a break and try to post coherent sentences. Thank you.

[likeitis5050]

Vote for term limits when available.
Posted by tibu987

That''s the problem...getting them up for vote. Americans can''t make it much clearer in the last election, giving the Dems control. Problem is, the Dems were stupid enough to believe they were voted in because they were so superior and directly connected to what Americans wanted...and they haven''t listened to one word since. They were elected as a statement to all of Congress...no one is in there except that the people want you there. Congress is NEVER going to submit and pass a bill that limits their terms in office. Serving in Congress should not be seen as a career choice, which it is now. Kennedy is so rooted it will take an undertaker to get him out.

I have been saying for 20 years that Congress should only get to stay for two terms and the president one...6 years...and then out. If they can''t fulfill their campaign promises in 2 terms (president 6 years), then they aren''t likely going to do it, given that re-election campaigning take up so much time. Just about 2 years of a presidents time is spent on re-election campaigning. Get rid of the re-election c..rap, give him time to clean up after the last president and the rest of the time is quality service.

Now...whom do you think will ever get this done...Congress? Might as well pass out steak knives for them to cut their own throats...and even then they wouldn''t get it done quick enough.

[tibu987]

Stevens personifies the type of person who should not be returned to office. He is typical of those who only represent his state and does does not give a *** for the rest of the country.
Vote for term limits when available.
Vote OUT of office any politician, state or federal, who has spent more than two terms in office.
The Stevens, Byrd, Kennedy, Warner, et al, have outlived their duty to the entire country. Only feathering ones nest is not enough in this day and age. It is time for them to go.
The malingerers, feeding at the public trough for many years, should be replaced with younger people with more idealistic ideas. And then vote them out also after two terms, regardless of party.