By Peter Cohn, CongressDaily
© National Journal Group Inc.
Friday, Nov. 2, 2007

The gang that brought us the phrases "death tax" and "cut and run" is back, this time with "worthless pork" and "social spending." President Bush and his GOP allies, in particular House Minority Leader Boehner, have unleashed a barrage of sound bites as they try to paint the Democrats' Labor-HHS bill as full of frivolous items forced on John Q. Taxpayer. Democrats bristle at the tone, with Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, noting that Bush's reference to "social spending" is "as though it pays for Saturday night socials or something, ice cream socials."

Bush might have coined the phrase, but his budget request is not entirely clean of what might be considered "social spending." Take official administration statements outlining Bush's veto threat of a bill that would provide $150.7 billion in discretionary funds, or $9.8 billion more than Bush wants. For example, OMB chided Democrats for cutting Bush-favored programs such as scholarships for low-income students in public schools to attend private schools; funding for faith-based community service organizations; and the Points of Light Foundation and America's Promise volunteer service groups.

In citing "worthless pork" in the House Labor-HHS bill, Boehner's office ticked off a list of items, such as money for an education program conducted on a 65-foot catamaran in Monterey Bay, sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif. Not coincidentally, all were sponsored by Democrats. For his part Boehner's conscience is clear, being one of only a handful of House Republicans who do not request earmarks. But the same can not be said for the other 98 percent or so of the House GOP Conference. Boehner's top lieutenant, House Minority Whip Blunt, has used the term "pork-barrel" to describe the Labor-HHS and other domestic funding bills -- but he has refrained from using the term "worthless." That might have something to do with the $1 million Blunt secured in the House-passed Labor-HHS measure for five projects in his district, which he touted in a press release after passage in July.

	"All of Congressman Blunt's requests . . . are important priorities for the 7th District of Missouri." -- statement from office of House Minority Whip Blunt.

Some items are more easily ridiculed than Blunt's earmark for the Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks, which is a shelter for abused children. When asked if Boehner's "worthless pork" comments might be a little strong, Blunt's office demurred. "All of Congressman Blunt's requests are carefully vetted and they are important priorities for the 7th District of Missouri. Congressman Blunt stands behind all of his requested projects that receive federal funds and discloses all of them publicly."

A Boehner spokesman softened the blow a bit, emphasizing he was speaking generally about Congress's appetite for earmarks. "Mr. Boehner's comments simply reflect his belief that Congress is addicted to spending," he said. House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member David Hobson, R-Ohio, who is retiring at the end of this term, said he disagrees with the notion that the Labor-HHS bill represents "worthless pork" and frivolous social spending. "You have to understand, that stuff is serving up meat to our base," Hobson said. "These guys really do believe that stuff."

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