John McCain
Town Hall
Cleveland, OH 05/01/08
TRANSCRIPT:
REPORTER: . . . I'm not sure if you're familiar with the [unintelligible] project here in Cleveland, the redevelopment of the roadway between Howard City and Downtown . . . it's a $200 million project is that something that you would consider one of those pork barrel projects that you would be opposed to?
JOHN MCCAIN: I consider any project that's not properly authorized and appropriated a violation of the way that the congress of the United States is supposed to do business. Congress is supposed to authorize budgets in competition with all others. I have no idea whether this is a worthy project or not nor should I be expected to. But I know what this process has done. It's caused corruption . . . so it's a corrupt process and if the project that . . . the people in this area are in favor of it's fine with me if it competes fairly and equitably on a level playing field with other requirements with transportation all over America. The process is what I strongly object to. I'm sure that there are many worthwhile projects that are funded by earmarks. That doesn't make it right. Because there are billions of dollars in not worthwhile projects. . . well the bridge to nowhere in Alaska was $233 million . . . if I were the people in this area I would be outraged . . . that instead of going to a much needed project here . . . because of the power and influence of an individual member of congress that that project is funded . . . and by the way, I think the American people get it. I think they understand that spending is completely out of control . . .finally I summarize by saying it wasn't always like this. There are people that argue that this process of pork barrel spending, they always did it. They didn't. They didn't. . . like any other evil, it has dramatically increased in numbers and amounts over the years.
LABEL:
JM OH 5-1 (EW#5) DAGH -- Clip L
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