Oklahoma ranks 16th nationally in pork barrel projects

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A government watchdog group ranks Oklahoma 16th in the nation in the number of "pork barrel projects" per capita.<br/><br/>Citizens Against Government Waste says the state received

Thursday, April 14th 2005, 11:20 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A government watchdog group ranks Oklahoma 16th in the nation in the number of "pork barrel projects" per capita.

Citizens Against Government Waste says the state received $200-million last year from Congress for various projects it describes as "pork."

The list includes the Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway in Oklahoma City, construction projects at some military installations, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the planned American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City.

It also includes agricultural research projects at Oklahoma State University and projects to deal with pollution problems at Tar Creek in northeast Oklahoma.

Congressman Ernest Istook takes issue with how the group defines "pork" projects. He says the group takes a bad problem and makes it look even worse.