We may have our largest deficit in history, but at least this President loves pork (he has yet to veto a single bill in four years). The AP's Sharon Theimer has the story:

Despite soaring deficits, the government spending plan awaiting President Bush's signature is chock-full of special items for industries and communities. Consider $443,000 to develop salmon-fortified baby food, or $350,000 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Lawmakers from both parties who approved the $388 billion package last weekend set aside plenty of money for projects certain to sow good will in their home districts.

The time-honored practice flourished despite the ballooning deficit, less money for federal programs and rising unease about how government will finance the futures of Medicare and Social Security.

For instance, there was $50,000 to control Missouri's wild-hog problem, $1 million for the Norwegian American Foundation in Seattle, $335,000 to protect North Dakota's sunflowers from blackbirds, $4 million for the International Fertilizer Development Center in Alabama.

Don't forget $2 million for a new yacht for the President.

There is at least some good news in the article (for Oregonians like me, at least).

Within hours of the bill's passage, lawmakers were promoting the projects they had brought home to constituents. In federal budgets, what is derided as pork-barrel spending by one constituency is embraced by another as well-deserved local aid.

Oregon's senators, Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Gordon Smith, put out an 11-page news release Sunday sharing credit for several hundred million dollars headed to their state. Projects the money will finance include "wood utilization research," a barley gene-mapping project, remodeling of a cafeteria at Crater Lake National Park and the West Coast Groundfish Observers undertaking.

Good job Gordo. Good job Ronny.