Pork: The Terrorist's Friend

Report: Pork Barrel Spending Leading To Unfair Distribution of Fire Dept. Funds

By ALEC MAGNET - Staff Reporter of the SunOctober 24, 2005

Congressional pork barrel spending has led to an unfair and unwise distribution of federal assistance to local fire departments, a report released yesterday by Rep. Carolyn Maloney said.

Administered by the Department of Homeland Security, the Assistance to Firefighters Program awarded $746 million in grants to fire departments in fiscal 2004. Because grants were capped at $750,000 a department, New York City received 12 cents for each resident. Montana, by contrast, received $7.84 per capita...