Being born and raised in the south, I eat my share of barbecue, tenderloin, sausage, and bacon, but I am not a big fan of pork. At least not the pork that has defined the Bush administration and it’s cohorts in Congress.

I have said before, I am basically a Bush supporter, but I am beginning to wonder. No, I am not hanging a Clinton in 2008 sign, but I do agree with John McCain, and that worries me- well one issue isn’t too bad. The highway bill, or the highway ROBBERY bill as some pundits are calling it, comes up every six years, and this year’s is, according to McCain, “egregious and remarkable.” [CNN:John McCain]

It’s not the $286.4 billion that the bill spends; it’s the $24 billion in handouts and pet projects. $24 billion of pork! Here are some examples of the “special projects” that you and I are funding: $2.5 million to bury the phone lines in India Point, RI. Do you know anyone in India Point, RI? Neither do I. $1.12 million to install stair lighting, and improve the visitors’ center at the Blue Ridge Music Center; have you been to the Blue Ridge Music Center? Did you know there was a Blue Ridge Music Center? Neither did I. $471,000 for the Edge of Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcell, MN; why not just go to the edge of the wilderness. There is even $100,000 for a city in California to put up a traffic light. Why is that MY responsibility? The bill also includes $230 million for a bridge connecting Gravina Island with the Alaskan mainland. That’s not all that bad, except there are only 50 PEOPLE on Gravina Island. These are federal funds, which means mine, yours, OUR money. [CAGW:Highway Bill]

I don’t know what is worse, the 412-8 vote that passed this bill, or Bush actually calling this “fiscally responsible.” But, then again, what else should I expect from the most fiscally liberal president in American history; Medicare reform, the drug benefit, the ridiculous energy bill, and now this monstrosity; a president who apparently cannot spell V-E-T-O. Reagan, who Bush suggested he emulated, vetoed the highway bill in 1982 with only ten projects; this bill has over 6,000!

Congratulations to the delegation from Arizona- home to three of the eight members of Congress who voted against this bloat.