Pig Book: Maryland ranks 22nd in pork barrel spending

$240,356,990: That’s the total value of the 212 pork barrel projects secured from the federal government by Maryland’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. Maryland ranks 22nd out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in such spending, $42.78 per capita.

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

• Smallest project: $42,300 for the Prince George's County State's Attorney Office Bilingual Victims Advocate (State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance - Byrne Discretionary Grant)
• Largest project: $34,300,000 for the Largo Metrorail extension, Largo (New Starts/Fixed Guideway)

• Sen. Barbara Mikulski sponsored legislation worth $289.9 million.
• Sen. Robert Menendez sponsored legislation worth $236.4 million.
• House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer sponsored legislation worth $149.1 million.