CAGW Announces 2007 Porker of the Year Nominees

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--With presidential primary season in full swing Citizens Against
Government Waste (CAGW) jumped into the fray today with the
announcement of its nominees for 2007 Porker of the Year. Citizens may
cast their ballots for the politician they think was the most
reprehensible porker of 2007 in an online poll. The six finalists were
chosen by CAGW staff from among 12 worthy Porkers of the Month for
2007. The candidates are:

-- Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) - The House Majority Whip was
November's Porker of the Month for airdropping a $3 million
earmark for the First Tee golf program into the fiscal 2008
Department of Defense Appropriations Act conference report. In
fiscal year 2008, he brought in 38 pork projects worth $62
million.

-- Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) - The Senate Production, Income
Protection and Price Support Agriculture Subcommittee Chair
was December's Porker of the Month for thwarting three
amendments to the farm bill that would have provided some
modest reform. In fiscal year 2008, she brought in 96 pork
projects worth $196.3 million.

-- Rep. John 'Jack' Murtha (D-Pa.) - The House Defense
Appropriations Subcommittee Chair was May's Porker of the
Month for throwing a temper tantrum and threatening his
colleagues over a challenge to a $23 million pet project in
the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2008. Rep.
Murtha also purposefully put up roadblocks and barriers to
hinder earmark accountability and reform. In fiscal year 2008,
he brought in 72 pork projects worth $149.2 million.

-- Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) - The House Transportation
Committee Chair was August's Porker of the Month for proposing
a "temporary" 5 cent increase in the gas tax in the wake of
the Minnesota bridge collapse to raise $25 billion within
three years for a new bridge trust fund. In fiscal year 2008,
he brought in 32 pork projects worth $87.9 million.

-- Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) - The Senate Commerce, Justice,
Science Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member was
October's Porker of the Month for an $11 million Health
Resources and Services Administration earmark for his alma
mater, the University of Alabama. In fiscal year 2008, he
brought in 201 pork projects worth $174 million.

-- Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) - The at-large representative was
April's Porker of the Month for defending earmarks and
pledging to continue his state's disproportionate harvest of
federal tax dollars. Rep. Young also placed a $10 million
federal earmark for an unnecessary road project in Florida. In
fiscal year 2008, he brought in 19 pork projects worth $17.1
million.

The ballot and further details on each of the finalists can be
found at swineline.org/porkeroftheyear.

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste,
fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Porker of the Month and
Porker of the Year are dubious honors given to lawmakers, government
officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard
for the interests of taxpayers.

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW)
Leslie K. Paige, 202-467-5334
or
Alexa Moutevelis, 202-467-5318

Copyright Business Wire 2008