HUNTSVILLE, AL -
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby is garnering a not-so flattering title from the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog.
Citizens Against Government Waste is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in government. They say Senator Shelby has a history of pork barrel spending at taxpayer expense.
Citizens Against Government Waste named U.S. Senator Richard Shelby "Porker of the Month" for December 2009.
Shelby shares the dubious distinction with two other Senators, Thad Cochran (R) of Mississippi and Susan Collins (R) of Maine.
The organization says the three senators were the only three Republicans who crossed over to vote with the Democratic majority to pass the $1.1 trillion spending bill earlier this month.
That bill had more than 5,000 earmarks worth $3.8 billion.
The watchdog organization says they decided to give themselves some pork for Christmas rather than giving the taxpayers a gift by opposing the bill.
Tom Schatz is the President of the organization.
WHNT News 19 Chief Investigative Reporter Wendy Halloran spoke with Schatz via satellite from Washington, DC.
He says Senator Shelby is a long-time appropriator who made sure to grab 158 projects worth $267.4 million in fiscal year 2009.
In addition, he says in 2004 Shelby Hall opened at the University of Alabama his alma mater. It was one of the largest buildings on campus.
The building was named after him because he was able to steer $35.5 million worth of federal funds to the facility.
Tom Schatz says, "Senator Shelby for many years has brought home the bacon to the state of Alabama and we've identified him over the years as a porker for bringing home money to name some of the university facilities after himself.
Schatz goes on to say, "That's an interesting issue because recently the House of Representatives said that they will not provide money for any earmark or pork barrel projects that's named after a sitting member of the House of Representatives. The Senate should do the same because that's just a big advertisement for election."
Senator Shelby's camp issued the following response to WHNT News 19 about the dubious honor.
"Senator Shelby works diligently through the appropriations process to secure funding for meritorious projects in Alabama that contribute to our economic growth and national security. The funding he secures for Redstone Arsenal and Marshall Space Flight Center are just a couple of important examples. He stands firmly behind, and is willing to justify, any funding he requests."
It's important to point out that this isn't the first time U.S. Senator Richard Shelby has been named "Porker of the Month" by this taxpayer watchdog organization.
October 2007 Shelby was given the dubious honor for an 11 million dollar Health Resources and Services Administration earmark for his alma mater.
According to Citizens Against Government Waste, Senator Shelby's 11 million was listed in the bill as going to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for construction, renovation and equipment.
But CAGW says a press release on Shelby's website at the time specified that a 70,000 square foot Health Services building would be constructed.
Senator Shelby was also among 71 U.S. lawmakers named "Porkers of the Month" in March 2008. They voted against an amendment that would have imposed a one-year earmark moratorium in 2009.
Citizens Against Government Waste named U.S. Senator Richard Shelby "Porker of the Month" for December 2009.
Shelby shares the dubious distinction with two other Senators, Thad Cochran (R) of Mississippi and Susan Collins (R) of Maine.
The organization says the three senators were the only three Republicans who crossed over to vote with the Democratic majority to pass the $1.1 trillion spending bill earlier this month.
That bill had more than 5,000 earmarks worth $3.8 billion.
The watchdog organization says they decided to give themselves some pork for Christmas rather than giving the taxpayers a gift by opposing the bill.
Tom Schatz is the President of the organization.
WHNT News 19 Chief Investigative Reporter Wendy Halloran spoke with Schatz via satellite from Washington, DC.
He says Senator Shelby is a long-time appropriator who made sure to grab 158 projects worth $267.4 million in fiscal year 2009.
In addition, he says in 2004 Shelby Hall opened at the University of Alabama his alma mater. It was one of the largest buildings on campus.
The building was named after him because he was able to steer $35.5 million worth of federal funds to the facility.
Tom Schatz says, "Senator Shelby for many years has brought home the bacon to the state of Alabama and we've identified him over the years as a porker for bringing home money to name some of the university facilities after himself.
Schatz goes on to say, "That's an interesting issue because recently the House of Representatives said that they will not provide money for any earmark or pork barrel projects that's named after a sitting member of the House of Representatives. The Senate should do the same because that's just a big advertisement for election."
Senator Shelby's camp issued the following response to WHNT News 19 about the dubious honor.
"Senator Shelby works diligently through the appropriations process to secure funding for meritorious projects in Alabama that contribute to our economic growth and national security. The funding he secures for Redstone Arsenal and Marshall Space Flight Center are just a couple of important examples. He stands firmly behind, and is willing to justify, any funding he requests."
It's important to point out that this isn't the first time U.S. Senator Richard Shelby has been named "Porker of the Month" by this taxpayer watchdog organization.
October 2007 Shelby was given the dubious honor for an 11 million dollar Health Resources and Services Administration earmark for his alma mater.
According to Citizens Against Government Waste, Senator Shelby's 11 million was listed in the bill as going to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for construction, renovation and equipment.
But CAGW says a press release on Shelby's website at the time specified that a 70,000 square foot Health Services building would be constructed.
Senator Shelby was also among 71 U.S. lawmakers named "Porkers of the Month" in March 2008. They voted against an amendment that would have imposed a one-year earmark moratorium in 2009.
