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Top Ten Pork Projects

Photo by Harald Dettenborn (via Wikimedia)

The latest version of the multi-billion dollar Farm Bill is laden with pork, according to former Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Sen. McCain (R., Ariz.) tweeted out a David Letterman-style countdown of the most egregious cases of waste and pork:

#1 - Creates new USDA office to inspect catfish. FDA already inspects catfish, so this one’s a real bottom-feeder.

#2 - $200 mil Market Access Program promoting brands overseas. Example: Holding "liquor mixology demonstrations" in Russia.

#3 - $25 million to study health benefits of peas, lentils and garbanzo beans. Pretty sure they’re healthy.

#4 - Subsidies for mohair (AKA goat wool), which have cost taxpayers $20 million+ since 1954

#5 - New subsidy for popcorn producers. Yes, popcorn subsidies - after popcorn prices rose 40% in recent yrs.

#6 - $10 million to establish new USDA program to eradicate feral pigs. Talk about pork!

#7 - $15 million to establish a new grant program to "improve" the U.S. sheep industry. A ba-a-a-a-a-a-d idea.

#8 - $700 million for "Ag and Food Research Initiative" funding grants to research pine trees in FL & study moth pheromones

#9 - $40 million in grants from USDA to states to encourage private land owners to use land for bird watching or hunting

#10 - $200 million for "Value Added Grant Program" often used to give grants to wine producers (& cheese makers too)