Hillary, Schumer Top 'Porkers'

“Hillary, Schumer Top 'Porkers'

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) Monday named New York Sens. Hillary Clinton (D) and Charles Schumer (D) the Co-Porkers of the Month for February for pledging to fight the President's reforms of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Clinton and Schumer lashed out at the President, with Clinton describing the federal grants as "a lifeline" for New Yorkers.


President Bush's fiscal 2006 budget includes 154 program cuts or terminations, saving a total of $20 billion. The CDBG program, which is providing $4.7 billion to cities and towns nationally in fiscal 2005, is on that list.


The budget proposes transferring CDBG from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Department of Commerce, merging it with 17 other economic development programs with total funding of $3.7 billion.


The administration has focused its program reductions and consolidations in part on its Program Assessment Rating Tool, which concluded the CDBG program is "ineffective," citing an "unclear purpose, loose targeting requirements, and lack of results" as reasons for change.

The Bush plan would require cities to submit their proposals in advance and compete for funds.

Schumer called the plan a "meat axe approach" to reducing the deficit, saying CDBGs "are the single most important tool that cities like New York have to grow."


Clinton said the CDBG program "is a lifeline for many individuals already struggling to make ends meet. And now the president wants to leave them out in the cold."

But it has been taxpayers who have been left out in the cold, footing the multibillion-dollar bill for a program that lacks accountability and is rife with waste and mismanagement.


Localities have wide latitude in using the grants, and Congress does a poor job of tracking where the money gets spent.


Past grants have included $19,000 for Christmas lights, $21,000 for a picnic, and $250,000 for "streetscape improvements." Beneficiaries of CDBGs are often served by other programs at the state, local, for-profit and nonprofit levels.

Politicians have steered CDBGs to theaters, opera houses and museums in wealthy areas. Last fall, the Buffalo News reported that Buffalo had squandered much of the block grant money it had received over the past 30 years. Far from being an essential tool for combating poverty, CDBGs have become just another budgetary channel for pork and waste.

Schumer makes the absurd contention that federal handouts are the engine of New York's economy. With a gross state product of $826 billion in 2001, "losing" $150 million in CDBGs would hardly constitute a catastrophic blow to the state's economy.


The real issue in New York is the negative impact of the highest tax burden of any state - an undeniable drag on economic growth. New York City's rent control laws cause landlords to neglect capital improvements or abandon properties altogether.


Clinton's comment that budget cuts will leave residents "out in the cold" is laced with irony, considering that recipients of CDBGs often drive local stores and real estate investors out of business.

For resisting much-needed reforms in a wasteful program, for exaggerating the supposed benefits of CDBGs, and for leaning on federal grants to cover up local problems, CAGW names New York Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer its February Porkers of the Month.

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in government.”

“Who do you think is going to bankrupt the country sooner, Hillary and Schumer or our President?”

“Stove, could you have found a more biased article?
Taxes are the problem.
Rent control is the problem.
Did this come straight from the White House?”

“You guessed it!”

“ New York City's rent control laws cause landlords to neglect capital improvements or abandon properties altogether.

I read today that New York's homeless ratre is the highest in 70 years. The average two bedroom apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn (where I recently moved from is over 2000 dollars a month). Sure, remove rent control and let the landlords raise their rents to whatever the deem fit. This way, we can eliminate any family that makes less thn 6 digits a year! And let's give them some more tax breaks, too! If those poor c_cks_ckers can't make that kind of money, then screw 'em! Eh, Stovie?



BTW, this program has been part of HUD since 1974 and achieved much success. Most of it's funding in the past has gone to revitalization and renovating housing. I don't see that to be a waste of money. Sorry! You can find examples of waste within any party's pet projects (if you want to make this a partisan issue, which you've done). Don't condemn a good program on the basis of this bias crap you post. BTW, Chuck Schumer has served this state (and this city in the past) better than Bush has served this nation, IMO...”

“Gee who'd a thunk liberals would be so...liberal with the cash?”

“and $250,000 for "streetscape improvements


Do any of you "critics" even know what this is?”

“Pork: Best eaten with a pinch of salt.
last edited: 2/16/05 8:03:52 AM”

“Golly Gee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...And just a few days ago all you 'liberals' were screaming about how the EVIL Repubs were spending all that money, but, but, but,....it's different if Dems do it!!!!

MOOOOOOOOOOOOHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!”

“Streetscape improvements???

I guess guys who live on a dirt road in Bum#&%!$, Mississippi wouldn't understand.

Geez Stove, when they burn the money it's a bit different from actually fixing something that people use.

Baltimore City schools need a billion dollars to fix buildings and buy adequate books and computers.

Dubya and Company are burning that much money in a week in Iraq.
last edited: 2/16/05 8:17:42 AM”

“streetscape improvments,,,around here that is grassy dividers in the roadway with trees/shrubs, sidewalk construction, large pot plants/planted trees on the sidewalk, sculptures, visible address signs, lighting, etc. Roadway beautification in a nut shell , attempting to make the strip look more modern and fresher.

And the 250k would go pretty fast especially here in the burbs we they like to build sidewalks to nowhere.
last edited: 2/16/05 8:20:49 AM”

“MarkO, you are such a clown.
Ha Ha.”

“BR is right. Chances are that it's money spent on things of more aesthetic value, rather than functional things. I don't think it really matters to the chief critic here. Just speaking out against the 'Commander in Cheese' is grounds enough to lash out at the senator and totally ignore any contrary argument, whether it makes sense or not...”

“Jacksonville spent a ton of cash doing streetscape improvements.

Looks pretty dang nice out there.
A few sections of town went from sh|t to shine.”

“Tree, don't play into SS trolling.”

“But he wants to play, Ewker!!”

“Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in government.

Here's you libs' response so far:
"but, but, but......they are all a bunch of rednecks!"

Appears the most major complaint is "NOT IN MY BACKYARD".”

“What's wrong with rent control?

Why is NY politics in the news much more now?”

“Warrrrrrrrriorssssss come out to playyyyyyya!”

“LMFAO!

What a classic B Movie!”

“It would appear that pork recipients are only against others getting pork.

And the problem with rent control is that capitalism works on using capital to make money not lose money.
When you limit income, the property owner cuts costs to balance.
But some costs increase anyway, property tax, repairs and maintenance, but the rent cannot cover them.

The bogey of they would raise rents until no-one could afford to live there is also contrary to the free market. If no-one lived there the landlord would still be paying costs and would have no income, a big loss, so they would have to decrease rents to where people would rent. The market will find a balance.

The argument that big brother will set a fair balance much quicker is also probably true, but then big brother moves on to other crisis's of the day and what was set at one time to be fair becomes increasing unsustainable.

If you must have socialism, build government housing for your poor, do not bankrupt those that do invest their own money into society simply because they have managed to save some money and therefore have more than those that do not, or can not.

Bottom line on the pork, Hillary and Schumer are hired to do good for New Yorkers. They are doing well what they are paid to do.”

“I don't know about "socialism" but maintaining a stable society has it's advantages.

The results of instability can be rather costly.”

“I agree Manuka. When it comes budget time all the politicians jump in the fray looking to bring as big a piece of the pie back to their districts. In our district our rep Mike Turner’s biggest focus is keeping the funding coming into Write Patterson AF Base because it’s the biggest base and provides so much for the community. He does a good job at too. I feel this is being responsible.

Everyone wants to point the finger at the guy doing the budget but no one wants to point the finger where it can make the most difference on the national level; at their own reps.
We have to ask questions like, "Is it responsable to spend 1/4 million dollars for pants and landscaping in a place where it should be up to the city and it's own people to make it better?".”

“Rent control is.................difficult at best, no? I have mixed feelings.

The market would find a balance but might it not be more costly in the long run? Rent skyrockets and people move out while more businesses move in. More/better businesses increases property taxes. The trend continues until the businesses have no patrons. the patrons shop near them in the burbs. Businesses close, values crash and people come back.

has this not happened in cities?

My rent started at 750 in 2000. I pay 1006 now. My rent "ceiling" always outpaces the increase. I believe right now the "ceiling" is near $3000.

My neighborhood is becoming sickenly Foo-foo like.

WTF is a "ceiling"?”

“AH..... stovepipe is just trying to divert attention away from the fact that Alabama gets far more back from the Feds than it pays in. It's a welfare state....doesn't support itself.

Hell, their sales tax ( on FOOD too) is 9%.
We charge a whopping 5% here in liberal MD.

NY gets less back than it pays....this is old news. NY, NJ, MD, CT, etc are paying to help ole Alabama.

$250,000!!!!! What a joke.

If Bush got his way and got all the cuts he wants.....$20 Billion, it would be a fart in a hurricane. The deficit is $400 Billion, not counting Iraq.

Surely you understand this ...don't ya boy?”

“What item above would create an unstable society MarkO ?

Is government housing instead of rent control the problem ?
Why would that make society unstable ?

or is just the concept of allowing people to exercise the right to OWN property that bugs you?”

“Uh oh.


BTW - I voted for Schumer and mr. Attorney General what's his face.......Springer? Stinger? Spritzer?


Those were the days..........voting for real politicians.

Sigh.”

“Ha Ha, JO, such a pleasant guy you are, 'boy'.

Thank you very much for all that money!
I'm very pleased that your taxes are coming in to my state!
My thanks to all of you 'rich' states that support all the layabouts in my state!

JO, why do you hate poor people so?”

“Yeah, gawd-frickin-forbid that money should find it's way to those who need it most.”

“Yeah, gawd-frickin-forbid that money should find it's way to those who need it most.”
Nigal
10:46:53 AM
2/16/05

Commie.”

“Don't you EVER call me a liberal again Rat Boy. LOL!”

“Oh yeah....under your skin....like an Alabama chigger.

Hating poor folks? Say what? So tell me son, why does Alabama have such a skewed tax system? ANd don't deny it. I've been down there, got friends there, honest good people who won't lie about it. One that lets the wealthy off easy while taxing poor folks on income and groceries too? Even a Republican governor, quoting Bible verses to point out how corrupt and immoral that system is could not sway the good folks of Alabama away from that tax system.

Hey....get back to work. Surely your employer aint paying you to post your nonsense all day. Rush's job is secure so just give it up. I'm home with a sick child.”

“

Got any sunblock?”

“I see it now! It was those nasty, commie loving feds (especially the Kennedy brothers) that made us stop our little "arrangement" down here and made us go to school with those people.

So......lets set it up where we tax those that are better off as little as possible, tax those people for everything including food. It won't be enough to run the joint by ourselves so we'll let the feds have to make up the difference.

Schweeeet!!!”

“Rent control is hardly something that I would constitute as a "Big Brother" program. Isn't that a bit of a stretch? The landlords go before a hearing every year. The tenants' groups go there yelling and screaming. The landlords and their lawyers go there screaming also. It is zoo. But,it's necessary. There, a board decides what the % limits are going to be imposed on two and one year leases. The landlords, if they had their way, would have the average apartment here at a 4,000 dollars a months for a closet if there was no rent control. At the same time, we'd be living pretty cheap if the tenants' groups had their way. The bottom line is, they get a raise every year. And, whether it's generous or not (at times it is and at times it isn't) they beetch and moan louder than hell. Rent control is not only a good thing here. It's necessary, being that neither side ever walks away completely satisfied.


BTW, as of now, Stovie has still not rebutted one single argument on this topic.”

“".....or is just the concept of allowing people to exercise the right to OWN property that bugs you?”
manuka
9:37:30 AM

Is rent control a slippery slope?

Where have property owners lost their right to own property?

Oh come on, why don't you just call me a "communist"?

Anyone who advocates for the poor is the enemy, huh?”

“I'll try to type this r e a l s l o w so JO can understand it.

I l i v e i n M i s s i s s i p p i ,
n o t A l a b a m a.

I guess that profile 'thing' is to advanced for a nice boy like JO.”

“Rent control does have on downside - Really poor Landlords.

They fill up those welfare lines. ;)

Seriousl, though, if a landlord was worried about not making money he/she could buy property outside rent control areas.

How difficult is that?”

“Rent control needs its own thread.”

“So does Hillary and Porker.


Trump deals well with Rent Control.”

“treebeard - I'm not ignoring you, well, I am kinda, lol. I value your friendship and hope to hike with you some day. You tend to get very emotional sometimes on these threads and if I answer directly, I'm afraid l'll just piss you off more.”

“Skeerdy cat”

“Personally, I think the wealthy cities and states, like new york, should stop subsidizing places like Mississippi as they only waste the money on things like roads and schools. Redistributing wealth to poorer parts of the country. Paying for their defense. Sounds a little too pinko for my liking.
last edited: 2/16/05 10:38:11 AM”

“I think NY should stop subsidizing NYC.”

“"You tend to get very emotional sometimes on these threads"

If someone was speaking out against me and trying to deny me from porkin' I'd get emotional too. LOL!”

“Dang straight Y2!!!!!!!!!! ;-)”

“Alabama sales tax isn't 9%. It is in my town, but most other places it isn't.

The Alabama Constitution is a major cluster phuck. There is a large group out there trying to get it re-written. Who knows if it will happen, but it needs to. The Constitution was written in 1901 and is the largest/longest in the country. The main point of the whole document is to keep the status quo at that time. It works as a funnel. Everything has to go through Montgomery. You want to add a local sales tax for something? Fine, but the whole State has to vote on it. For those talkinga about the tax system here, you seem to know more about it than me, but it would stand to reason that it's designed the same way our sucky Constitution was written.”

“I hate to say this, but violin had the smartest answer to this thread.

I think I'm having a heart attack.”

““I think NY should stop subsidizing NYC.”
Bearmagnet
11:35:44 AM
2/16/05
ignore this user

Maybe we could just give NYC to New Jersey.
8D”

“Mississippi, Alabama......what's the difference?”