Lard-lined pockets, pig-headed senators

In voting for the first of a series of amendments last week to cut pork projects from the federal budget, Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold turned out to be a better representative of Louisiana than our own Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter.

The first amendment on the Senate floor would have cut $1.5 million from pork barrel projects for things like a sculpture garden in the state of Washington. Times-Picayune writer James Varney reported:

Neither of Louisiana's senators, Democrat Mary Landrieu or Republican David Vitter, voted in favor of it, although a Landrieu spokesman said Friday the senator probably would have supported the measure if the money was earmarked, instead, for the Gulf Coast. Indeed, only one Democrat backed the bill: Wisconsin's Russ Feingold. "It's embarrassing that Feingold was the only Democrat voting for it," The Daily Kos said. "What a great way to show the country that Democrats are the party of fiscal responsibility. Sheez."

Landrieu and Vitter supported later amendments to cut pork from the budget to invest in Gulf Coast rebuilding, but it was too little, too late.

As for Alaska Senator Ted Stevens' threat to resign from the Senate if it revoked funding for the $223 million "bridge to nowhere," which would serve 50 people, I say, 'tis better to kill two birds with one stone. Let him go!

None of the amendments passed.

Oh well, thanks for the memories New Orleans.