Pork Party House: Where DC insiders go for taxpayer-subsidized fun

First Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) surrenders his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee amid an ethics investigation.

Now Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) proposes an idea that she hopes will help her make good on her promise to help lead "the most ethical Congress in history"—a party-wide ban on earmarks. Will it happen? Don't bet on it.

Reason.tv's "Pork Party House" helps explain why neither party can resist the pull of pork. If you're a politician, lobbyist, or insider and you're in the mood to party, check out a Washington D.C. mansion called the Sewall-Belmont House. Party with senators and celebrities at thousand-dollar-a-plate fundraisers! You might even get to ride a mechanical bull!

The Sewall-Belmont House hosts so many A-list events, you might be surprised to find out that your tax dollars help fund this hotspot for Washington insiders.

"Over the last 10 years, the Sewall-Belmont House has gotten over $3.4 million in earmarks," says Leslie Paige of Citizens Against Government Waste.

Reporters often highlight the most ridiculous examples, but politicians have learned how to make their pork projects sound uncontroversial, even appealing.

Just say your project will help children, senior citizens, or—if you really want to slip under the radar—direct taxpayer dough to a museum. "Museums are one of the biggies because they sound so good," says Paige.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) used that angle to direct a million-dollar earmark to the Sewall-Belmont House (after the Senator received an award from the Sewall-Belmont House). Turns out Landrieu was just getting warmed up, because her recent $300 million "Louisiana Purchase" shot her into the ranks of pork legends.

It wasn't supposed to be like this, laments Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), one of Congress's few legitimate pork busters. Flake tells Reason.tv that despite pork-laden scandals that stuck some members behind bars—remember Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.)?—and promises from Barack Obama to reform earmarks, spending on pork continues to swell in the giant pork party house called the U.S. Congress.

"Pork Party House" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Producer: Hawk Jensen; Host: Nick Gillespie; Field Producer: Dan Hayes; Associate Producer: Paul Detrick; Additional Camera: Meredith Bragg; Production Assistant: Josh Swain; Music: "Get What You Want?" by Beight (Magnatune Records).

Approximately 6.30 minutes.

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• reason.tv
• reason magazine
• reason foundation
• reason.com
• reason.org
• mary landrieu
• jeff flake
• pork barrel spending
• earmarks
• congress
• government spending
• barack obama
• nancy pelosi
• duke cunningham
• federal budget
• ted balaker
• hawk jensen
• paul detrick
• dan hayes
• meredith bragg
• nick gillespie

[Garboth]

This video is making me hungry and angry.

[averagejoe040]

Now this is journalism.

Wish we got this kind of reporting from ABC, NBC And CBS or even the newspapers.

Instead, they are busy telling us about Obummer and how he wants to do such good things for us (even if we don't want him to)

[Silvsilvchan]

How do we know? What if Jindal pocketed some and gave her her share? That isn't directed at just HER but virtually every politician. We should always be at least a little skeptical, you know?

Jindal's predecessor didn't turn down funds after Katrina. Yet there is still a massive problem. Private donations of trailer houses were sent there too. FEMA wouldn't have it because they didn't pass certain inspections. Because being in a defective house is worse than being homeless?

[cristoballs]

i could understand the accusation if she were actually pocketing the money for herself, but that's simply not the case. the money goes to the state. after that it's basically up to the governer (jindal) and the state legislature to determine how it will be used. what do you think the chances are jindal will be refusing federal funds this time around?

[Silvsilvchan]

Well, the accusation she is facing IS that the three mil was thrown in to buy her vote. So it is relevant at the very least. Rather that is true or not there is no substantial proof for. She might have voted yes anyway. But just because I talk about, say as an example, Lenin and Stalin in the same sentence doesn't mean I think they were equal evils. They clearly have similarities but Stalin far outstripped his predecessor in how many he killed and was far less... lets use the word 'visionary'.

[Silvsilvchan]

Honestly, ignore the thumbs down. It can be disheartening but you aren't being hostile. Take it with a grain of salt.

You are just in Libertarian-ville. We see almost everything as pork. If this were say, the YoungTurks channel we'd be the ones with 17 thumbs down.

As to Landrieu and this being a hit piece... it focused on her, but it also hit several other politicians. I am shocked it didn't cite what's his face's bridge to no where.

Ha ha I can't even remember the corrupt bastard's name.

[Silvsilvchan]

Do you know there are people in Mississippi and Alabama who are still homeless after Katrina? Why should Louisiana constantly get all this money when the problem is actually WORSE in those far poorer states? Nevermind that Alabamans and Mississippians are also footing that three million price tag. Shouldn't the funding already sent to those states have helped dramatically reduce the problem? Yet it remains the same? Shouldn't we question where the money is actually going?

[Silvsilvchan]

I love Ron Paul, but he is pretty Earmarkish. Glad to hear his son is breaking his old man's habits, but Rand is also introducing some nastier ones. He's pretty hawkish and while I endorse over turning Roe vs Wade and turning the issue back over to the state hasn't he mentioned he wants to federally ban abortions except in cases where it endangers the mother's life?

[Silvsilvchan]

Earmarks are things that are tagged onto bills that they are otherwise unrelated to.

Pork is wasteful or frivolous spending.

It isn't that difficult to realize that earmarks are usually pork.

[Silvsilvchan]

Every little bit counts, but yeah. There are several other places we should be shedding light onto. Namely how much money we send overseas (makes up roughly a third of the budget) and how much we put towards military spending (makes up half, including some things that are counted as 'over seas' spending, military bases and 'exercises', so on and so forth).

But none the less, that doesn't mean that 1-2% isn't worth chasing down and killing too.