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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah's motto could be "Pork Elevated," as its ranking in the annual "Pig Book" has gone up six slots to No. 18 in the nation.
The annual publication by Citizens Against Government Waste said Utah, which ranked 24th in per capital pork spending last year, got $97.6 million in federal spending on what the group considered to be pork projects. That amounted to $39.51 per person. The national average is $30.55 per person.
The organization says signs of a program being pork include it being requested by only one chamber of Congress, not specifically authorized, not competitively awarded, not requested by the president, greatly exceeding the White House's budget request or what the program has received in the past and serving only a local or special interest.
This year's book singled out Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, for mention three times for projects he pushed through for his home state. He is the only member of the Utah delegation on an appropriations committee.
CAGW said Bennett's push for $14 million in agricultural appropriations is pork, including $300,000 for the Oquirrh Institute, the think tank started by former Gov. Mike Leavitt, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
The Oquirrh Institute, headquartered in Murray, is intended to shine early light on public-policy dilemmas and establish innovative solutions. It is currently concerned with moving to competency-measured education, improving environmental management, advancing health information and research and enhancing governance through technology.
Jim Souby, president and chief executive of the institute, said the federal government actually provides about 25 percent of what it raises annually. He said the federal grant funds the institute's environmental studies, which it shares and implements with local and state government leaders.
"We would characterize the grant as a smart investment," Souby told the Deseret Morning News.
The Pig Book also took issue with $1 million added by the Senate to the Defense spending bill for a competency-based distance education initiative with Western Governors University.
"A close examination of their Web site does not reveal any defense-related missions," the book said.
Bennett sits on the Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee and the Pig Book points to $13.95 million for Utah projects in the Interior spending bill.
Those included $4 million for the Utah Public Lands Artifact Preservation Act, $1.5 million for the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, $750,000 for the Range Creek/Rainbow Glass Ranch, $500,000 for a wastewater treatment plant in Eagle Mountain and $300,000 for wastewater infrastructure improvements for Judge Tunnel in Park City.
Bennett spokeswoman Mary Jane Collipriest said that by criticizing funding for items like the popular Bonneville Shoreline Trail and the new Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah, "CAGW demonstrates that it's missed it again.
"Without a new museum ... ancient artifacts found on federal land will continue to deteriorate in the closets and filing cabinets where they're currently housed," she said. "CAGW is ignoring the tremendous cost to the government which would result in failing to protect these valuable historic items. I'm sorry someone's led them astray in their analysis and failed to provide them with complete information about these worthwhile Utah projects."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
