Fox Business
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Government Gets Creative in Wasting Taxpayer Dollars

Details

  • Description

    FBN’s Gerri Willis on the government’s wasteful spending of taxpayer money.

  • Duration 2:54
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest Video

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

If you thought the GSA Vegas vacation was bad just wait until you hear what congress is doing with your tax dollars.

You may wanna sit down for the -- Citizens Against Government Waste they publish their latest addition of what they call the pig book.

This report is tracked Washington pork spending since 1990 -- let's start with the good news.

The amount of earmarks in fiscal year 2012 way down from 2010 in fact the number has decreased by more than 98%.

-- just a 152.

The cost also -- the amount of tax dollars destined for pet projects down 80% to just over three billion dollars.

The others of the report credit the new class of deficit hawks in congress and the ban on earmarks.

But three million dollars a still a lot of money which begs the question.

If there's a band what are we spending our money on I'm glad you asked.

Some of the biggest defenders defense for example congress appropriated 255 million dollars to upgrade the army's M one Abrams tank.

But here's the thing.

The Pentagon wants a halt production on these tanks report pointed out those members of congress who were the most vocal supporters of this -- Came from districts where the parts will be make.

Of course.

Other ridiculous defense spending 230 -- million dollars for cancer research and -- 120 million dollars for alternative energy research.

Both the which should never be the military's job let's face it and that research already being conducted -- where.

Speaking of energy other pork projects include nearly fourteen million dollars on hydropower construction.

Three and a half million dollars for the national Fitch fish hatchery.

And three million dollars for.

Aquatic plant control I don't know what that it's.

Are right if this went nearly a 115 million dollars has been note donated to the United Nations democracy -- despite.

Never being asked for another over the top gift and nearly six million dollar award for an east west center in Hawaii.

Then to improve relations.

Among the Pacific nations.

It's well known to be a pet project -- senator Daniel and you eight.

You may have noticed that's the first name I've mentioned in this list of earmarks why well the -- book used to be up public.

Entry -- shaming lawmakers spending ridiculous amounts of public money on their home districts.

The downside of the ban on earmarks says members of congress have not gotten rid of them entirely they've just gotten better at hiding them.

The report says disposable lack of earmarks resulted in.

A completely opaque process.

Since earmarks were deemed to be not exist sit there were no names of legislators.

No information on where and why the money will be spent and no list or chart of earmarks in the appropriation bills or reports.

Great.

-- -- what we need less transparency in Washington and members of congress wonder why only 12% of Americans approve of the job they're doing room.

Load More