Topline: Maine lobsters are known for their sharp claws, and in 2008 they could have taught the federal government a thing or two about penny pinching.
House members floated $178,000 to Maine’s Lobster Institute, helping fund outreach and education with money that would be worth $258,000 today.
That’s according to the “Wastebook” reporting published by the late U.S. Senator Dr. Tom Coburn. For years, these reports shined a white-hot spotlight on federal frauds and taxpayer abuses.
Coburn, the legendary U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, earned the nickname "Dr. No" by stopping thousands of pork-barrel projects using the Senate rules. Projects that he couldn't stop, Coburn included in his oversight reports. Coburn's Wastebook 2008 included 65 examples of outrageous spending worth more than $1.3 billion, including the $178,000 wasted on lobsters.
Key facts: The grant funds came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, even though the Lobster Institute had recently told the Bangor Daily News that it accepts money from “sponsors and endowments so that it will not need to rely on the federal government.”
The Institute helped organize the first-ever International Lobster Congress and created the now-defunct Lobster Cam, which updated online every two minutes with pictures of shellfish.
Search all federal, state and local government salaries and vendor spending with the AI search bot, Benjamin, at OpenTheBooks.com.
That doesn’t mean the Institute ignores the culinary field. They’ve created lobster-based dog treats called “Lobster Bisque-its” and helped publish “A Lobster in Every Pot,” a cookbook filled with “100 workmanlike recipes, trivia and lobstering reminiscences.”
The House voted 328-87 to fund the Institute, but no one took more heat than Rep. Kenny Hulshof. His primary election opponent sent staffers dressed as lobsters to Hulshof’s campaign events to remind voters about his wasteful spending.
Background: The earmark was proposed by Maine’s Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe and Democratic Rep. Tom Allen.
Collins still represents Maine and helped secure nearly $568 million in earmark funding this year, giving Maine more earmarked cash than all but four other states.
Summary: For the sake of food safety, let’s hope the Lobster Institute’s fish is prepared with more care than the federal government’s half-baked funding initiatives.
The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com
We're proud to make our journalism accessible to everyone, but producing high-quality investigative pieces still comes at a cost.
That's why we need your help. By making a contribution today, you'll be supporting RealClearInvestigations and ensuring that we can keep providing in-depth reporting that holds the powerful accountable.
Donate now and help us continue to publish distinctive journalism that makes a difference. Thank you for your support!
Support RealClearInvestigations →
