AUSTIN. Texas -- Citizens Against Government Waste, a non-partisan watchdog group, unveiled their annual list of leaders who have asked for the biggest congressional earmarks -- so-called pork barrel spending.
“The wasteful and unnecessary programs would take me a long, long time to enumerate,” said U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.
In 2010 Federal Budget, Texas raked in $406 million in pork. Only the state of California received more in congressional earmarks.
McCain’s Senate colleagues from Texas raked in the majority of that pork. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison requested nearly $167 million in federal earmarks; Sen. John Cornyn's haul was $127 million.
Many of their requests were made jointly, including millions for an air force base in Wichita Falls, millions for border sheriffs and millions more for Capitol Metro to upgrade buses and bus facilities.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars would go to help keep Austin’s sewers from overflowing.
The report issued a handful of "awards" to certain legislators. Hutchison and Ciro Rodriguez took home the "The Steak Through the Heart of Taxpayers Award" for landing $693,000 to go toward "beef improvement research."
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, requested $4.7 million in earmarks, including money for a math and science education program at Huston-Tillotson University.
U.S. Rep. John Carter requested nearly 10 times as many earmarks as Doggett, according to the report, including $2.3 million to restore vegetation on training ranges at Fort Hood at the post's request.
A spokesman says it's necessary to help repair environmental damage and stop ground water pollution from the munitions.
Proving in a state known for its beef, for leaders and -- some taxpayers -- there remains an appetite for pork.
"I don't see why it should be a bad thing inherently, it's all in the details, it's all in the matter of what it's for and whether the truth is being told about what it is,” said Kevin Lewis, Austin taxpayer.
One congressman you didn't hear mentioned is Republican Michael McCaul; he didn't request any pork, according to the report.
