Prince of Pork Named Chair of Appropriations Committee

Given what they did the last time they ran the joint, Republicans have zero credibility with the American people, especially those folks who pay taxes (hint: all of us, one way or another).

So it's not a good sign that GOP leaders passed over someone with great anti-pork bona fides such as Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and instead named Rep. Hal "Prince of Pork" Rogers (R-Ky.) to head up the House Appropriations Committee come the power switch in 2011.

In two years, Rogers pushed through 135 earmarks worth $246 million. He's brought tens of millions of dollars into his hometown of Somerset, Ky., so much so that the town has been dubbed "Mr. Rogers' neighborhood."

There's the $52 million National Center for Hometown Security and the tiny airport that received $17 million in federal dollars but has so little traffic that the last commercial airline pulled out in February.

There's also the Hal Rogers Parkway, which was formerly known as the Daniel Boone Parkway before being renamed for the 16-term congressman.

More recently, Rogers was able to secure $5 million dollars for conservation groups that work with wild cats.

Rogers is talking a good game, for sure:

"No more earmarks…I'll be the enforcer of the moratorium. The electorate told us, I think, the number one thing they want is to cut spending…And that's what we'll do."

More here. Jeebus H. Christ! How much hedging can be tucked into that "…I think"? You better cut spending GOP. And in case you're wondering how to balance the budget without raising taxes, here's an easy year-by-year, step-by-step explanation that even a congressman could understand.

Believe it when you see it.

Rogers, a 15-term congressman and unabashed cheetah-lover, was Citzens Against Government Waste Porker of the Month. Watch him talk about cutting spending (!) and doling out millions of dollars to a big-cat charity run by his daughter.