Tucked away in the $286 billion Highway Bill is $3 million for a movie. It's a documentary about infrastructure improvements in Alaska. Riveting. Edge of your seat excitement.Critics call it pure pork.
"There's a lot of money in this bill, but bar none we consider the documentary the most egregious provision because it has absolutely nothing to do with alleviating the traffic problems in this nation." -- Keith Ashdown, Vice President of Policy, Taxpayers for Common Sense, quoted in the Anchorage Daily News
The $3 million of your money will go to an Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated New York-based film company. It's cut a few engineering documentaries.
The producer is Ken Mandel. He has an engineering background and was impressed with engineering projects 18 years ago when he visited Alaska. Obviously, private sector backers weren't nearly as impressed -- seeing little profit potential for a wonkish work of film.
But Rep Don Young (R-AK) came to the rescue, with government cash for the idea -- after Mr Mandel hired a lobbyist to pitch the idea: Think The English Patient meets utter boredom!
Think of it this way: You, as a taxpayer, are now a movie investor. Have your people call Rep Young's people. (Anchorage Daily News)
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