Sen. Cruz: For Those of Us Who Fight Every Day for Fiscal Sanity, the ‘Pig Book’ Is an Invaluable Tool and Resource

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today attended the Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) 2018 Congressional ‘Pig Book’ press conference, where he discussed his opposition to wasteful earmark spending.

“The annual ‘Pig Book’ has been described as the most unpopular book in Washington,” Sen. Cruz said. “With some politicians, I guess that might make it tied with the U.S. Constitution and third grade arithmetic, all of which they hope to be able to disregard. But for those of us who fight every day for fiscal sanity, who are trying to bring some order to government spending and to stop the pattern we have seen decade after decade of bankrupting the next generation, the ‘Pig Book’ is an invaluable tool and resource.” 

Sen. Cruz’s full remarks may be viewed here and below:

“Thank you, good morning. Thank you for being here this morning.  Once again, I want to congratulate Citizens Against Government Waste for performing an invaluable public service, and revealing some of the worst pork spending that occurs over and over and over again in the federal budget.

“The annual ‘Pig Book’ has been described as the most unpopular book in Washington. With some politicians, I guess that might make it tied with the U.S. Constitution and third grade arithmetic, all of which they hope to be able to disregard. But for those of us who fight every day for fiscal sanity, who are trying to bring some order to government spending and to stop the pattern we have seen decade after decade of bankrupting the next generation, the ‘Pig Book’ is an invaluable tool and resource.

“What this event is all about, by any measure, it is unusual for elected members of Congress to be seen in public standing with gigantic, bright pink pigs - I would note, for the record, both of our pigs are giving my colleague Joni Ernst a great deal of space of latitude which is wise on their part. But doing so highlights a process that flourishes in darkness. Earmarks, spending, deficits, and debt all grow when the lights are turned off. All grow when attention is focused somewhere else. And what earmarks, spending, deficits, and debt loathe more than anything is sunshine, is being revealed. Because that sunshine has a disinfectant effect.

“In the last few years, we’ve seen discussion of Republican leadership about ending the ban on earmarks. To me, at least, that seems fiscal lunacy. One of the most significant conservative victories for reining in out of control spending - and yet, Republican majorities would be the one to abandon them. There will always be government spending, and there’s a process to that. A process set out by the Constitution and the rules of the House and Senate. Where spending should be through open and transparent processes, where the people can see where spending is going to needs of the country and the entirety. Not simply bringing home the bacon, but doing the job of the Congress of the United States to focus on the needs of the United States as a whole. Citizens Against Government Waste does a fabulous job of providing some of that sunshine, some of that light, some of the precursors to the bacon, and I’m grateful to be here and stand with them.”

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