Swine waste

            The 111th Congress has just been given the lowest approval rating (13%) of any congress in history. It is well deserved.

            On their way out our representatives in Washington are flipping us the bird with an appropriations bill containing 6,714 earmarks adding $8 billion to our debt. They obviously don't care that the people they represent told them loud and clear in November to stop wasteful spending. They just don't give a damn.

            Thanks to Senator Coburn we can now access the full list of earmarks along with their sponsors. Examples of outrageous projects are coming out from all quarters, but I thought I would look at the list myself to see if my own representatives were lined up at the trough.

            Sure enough, I didn't have to look very far before I found a beaut sponsored by our very own G.K. Butterfield. Would you believe $349,000 for swine and other animal waste management? How appropriate. Congressman Butterfield happens to be an expert in swine waste, having signed off on every pork bill introduced by the House since he's been in office. Now he is evidently looking to pay someone to shovel the s--- out of his back yard.

            Maybe Congressman Butterfield can't stand the stink anymore. We sure can't.