Lott of Baloney

By Paul Jacob

Oh brother. Senator Trent Lott has declared that he is oh-so-weary of watchdog-type complaints about porkbarrel spending.

About the porkbusters, Lott told reporters, "I'm getting damn tired of hearing from them. They have been nothing but trouble ever since Katrina. We in Mississippi have not asked for more than we deserve. We've been very reasonable."

Lott is saying out loud what other congressional porkers just mutter under their breath. He is also articulating exactly what's wrong with the mentality of the gimme-gimme-gimme career politician. Such a mentality has severe trouble comprehending the difference between what is mine and what is thine.

Listen to Lott and you'd think Congress is guilty only of plucking people from rooftops in the aftermath of hurricane floods. But, oh, no no no.

Lott was responding to a question about many millions in federal spending he wants devoted to tearing up a coastal rail line in Mississippi to build a highway. CSX Railraod and its insurance company just spent $300 million to repair this rail line. The $700 million Trent wants to turn it into a highway could end up being as much as $2.9 billion.

Senator Tom Coburn, one of the few porkbusting lawmakers in the Congress, calls it "ludicrous." Why "destroy and relocate a rail line that is in perfect working order, particularly when it recently underwent a . . . repair"?

Doesn't make any sense.

Common Sense is published by Americans for Limited Government. Their website can be visited at www.limitedgov.org.