Pig Book: Oregon ranks 45th in pork barrel spending

$75,943,902: That’s the total value of the 124 pork barrel projects secured from the federal government by Oregon’s Congressional delegation during the most recent fiscal year, according to the 2008 Pig Book.

Nationwide, Citizens Against Government Waste found $17.2 billion in pork barrel projects in the 12 appropriation bills passed by Congress during FY 2008. Oregon ranks 45th out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in such spending, $20.27 per capita.

You can search the Pig Book database here, but below are some highlights from Oregon’s elected officials in Washington.

• Smallest project: $44,650 for “City of Baker for drug detection canines (Methamphetamine Enforcement and Clean Up - Community Oriented Policing Service)”
• Largest project: $6,960,690 for “Cougar Lake (Corps of Engineers: Construction)”
• Sen. Gordon Smith brought home $130.8 million.
• Sen. Ron Wyden brought home $140.3 million.