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Pork vs. Transparency
By AFP | May 14, 2008
In case anyone is wondering why this blog – which supposedly focuses on “pork” – spends so much time focusing on transparency, here’s why: transparency is necessary for kosher (”pork-free”) government.
The ability to know quickly how the government is spending taxpayer funds – in particular, the ability to know quickly who will be the recipient of those funds – is anathema to politicians like Ricky Hendon, the new chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, through which any transparency legislation must pass.
Check out this Trib story from 2006:
Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) an assistant majority leader, designated $25,000 for a group run by his sister, Shebeta Carter. In her application–filed with the state board after Hendon earmarked the grant–Carter said she planned to teach eight to 10 students “positive life skills through the journey of doing a stage-play from A-Z.”
Carter told the Tribune she planned to stage a play that her daughter had written. Initially, she said, about 10 Marshall High School students signed up, but the number quickly dwindled to four. So, instead, the group spent several months putting on “inspirational” skits, learning how to apply theatrical makeup and mastering the techniques of camera work, she said.
“This is a good program,” she said. “Anytime you help people, it’s a good thing, especially those who are underprivileged.”
The grant recipients were designated on two lists: “Governor’s Special Projects” and “Legislative Special Projects.”
Hendon earmarked 41 grants, more than anyone else.
As we said yesterday, with Hendon at the head of Rules, pork futures are up in Illinois.
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
May 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Goodness! To “stage a play that her daughter had written”: a worthless idea even in the most positive light. Then it turns into four children trying on makeup (to perfect the MTV/VH1-skank-chic look?) and fiddling around with a camera…I’d like to see the videotape. Seriously. Shouldn’t there be a product, something to demonstrate where 25k of taxpayer money went? Why isn’t this-showing evidence of proper use-standard practice? Why aren’t their expectations for recipients of earmarks?
Ugh…I hate politics. Privatize everything.
May 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
“transparency is necessary for kosher (”pork-free”) government.”
Exactly! Without transparency the pork will never end. Great post!