“50 Days, 50 Ways” Heads West for the Weekend

Bosse Targets Pork in Alaska and Hawaii, passes $7 Billion

(Hillsboro) Hillsboro Republican Grant Bosse today targeted pet projects of two of the most powerful members of the U.S. Senate, as he continued his 50 day quest to cut federal spending. Bosse called for the elimination of the Denali Commission, the Education for Native Hawaiians Program, and the Alaska Native Educational Equity Program, which would save taxpayers over $73 million annually. These pet projects have been shepherded through Congress by Alaska Republican Ted Stevens and Hawaii Democrat Daniel Inouye.

“I worked for both Senator Stevens and Senator Inouye on the Commerce Committee. I respect them greatly, but I can not support continued funding for these pet projects,” Bosse said. “These programs simply duplicate other federal assistance that is already available to the people of Alaska and Hawaii.”

Created in 1998, the Denali Commission is a federal program available only in Alaska. The economic and health care assistance provided under this program could easily be provided under other federal programs, without creating a separate annual appropriation. The Commission has seven members and over twenty paid staff, and an annual budget of $7 million. The Education for Native Hawaiians Program is designed to support supplemental education services to the Native Hawaiian population. The Alaska Native Educational Equity Program provides supplemental education programs and services to Alaska Natives. Similar assistance is available under Title I Grants and the Special Education State Grants Program. Each costs taxpayers $33.3 million annually.

“While I respect their years of service in the U.S. Senate, seniority alone should not mean special access to taxpayers’ wallets,” Bosse concluded. “It’s time we stood up to the leadership of both parties and demanded that they stop spending our money on their pet projects.”

Bosse has now proposed more than $7 billion is specific cuts to federal spending, and he plans to offer a new program to eliminate every day until the September 9th Republican Primary. To learn more about Bosse’s aggressive grassroots campaign, go to www.Bosse2008.com.