State Grilled For ‘Pork’ Projects Group Ranks Washington Ninth Highest In Nation

Thu., April 6, 2000

Clayton Bellamy Staff Writer

Washington state received almost $256 million in “pork-barrel spending” in fiscal year 2000, the ninth highest in the nation, according to Citizens Against Government Waste.

The watchdog group released its 10th annual tally of congressional pork spending Wednesday, identifying $17.7 billion in spending nationally from 4,326 different projects.

Sens. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., were singled out for allocating $9.7 million for various salmon recovery initiatives, including $200,000 for spartina grass research. Spartina grass is a harmful, nonnative grass that clogs waterways in Washington state.

At its news conference Wednesday, the group mentioned Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., for $700,000 he secured for the Admiral Theater in Bremerton, a theater the group said had just undergone a $4.2 million renovation.

Spartina grass research may sound funny to outsiders, said Murray aide Tovah Ravitz, but it’s important in Washington state.

Dicks’ name appears in the group’s book three times, twice for the Admiral Theater (since it took additions to two different bills to secure the money), and once for $12 million of defense spending in his district. Attempts to reach Dicks Wednesday evening for comment were unsuccessful.

Per capita, Washington state ranked 15th in pork, by the group’s measure, up from 36th a year ago.

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