$150 million Ted Kennedy shrine

[TripleDigitRide]

Watchdogs: Temple for Ted Kennedy built with pork - BostonHerald.com

The amount of taxpayer money being funneled to a Dorchester shrine to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has ballooned to $38 million and could rise to at least $68 million this year, infuriating watchdog groups who insist the project should be privately funded.

With $38.3 million in federal earmarks already secured for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Sen. John F. Kerry and Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) have in recent days tapped the government for $30 million more in the next budget.

The new taxpayer-funded total would cover the full $60 million estimated cost of building the project, adjacent to John F. Kennedy Presidential Library at Columbia Point. And it would put the public on the hook for nearly half the project’s $150 million target.

“If the Kennedy family wants to honor the family they should find a way to fund it themselves,†said David E. Williams of Citizens Against Government Waste, a Washington nonprofit group.

“They should be looking for private funding,†he said. “They’re using federal taxpayers as the funder of first resort. We need to be the funder of last resort.â€

Williams and other critics called it “ridiculous†and an “egregious waste†that supporters want to siphon $28.9 million of the funding from the Defense Department budget alone. Nearly $19 million of that is already signed into law.

“It’s hard to fathom the defense-related portion of this project,†said Steve Ellis, a vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a fiscal watchdog group.

Tax subsidy defended

Peter Meade, president of the planned institute, defended the use of tax dollars and the defense money, saying the project would include programs geared for children of active military personnel.

“That’s where Congress chose to do it, and we’re grateful to them for it,†Meade said.

Markey and Kerry also defended the project’s growing cost, saying it could draw tourists to Boston. Both declined to respond to criticism of earmarks for the center.

The institute “will serve as a national resource, helping Americans learn more about the Senate’s vital place in our democratic system and the historic leading role that the late Senator Kennedy played during his decades of outstanding service to Massachusetts and to the nation,†Markey spokesman Daniel Reilly said in a statement.

It will be “an invaluable resource for citizens from the commonwealth to California,†he said.

A Kerry spokeswoman said in a statement that the institute will bring “knowledge and good citizenship to thousands of young people†and that Kerry is “proud that he worked with his colleagues last year to help make it a reality.†Williams said their support for the project equated with support for pork-type spending.

“Markey and Kerry understand that Kennedy is a beloved figure in Massachusetts and that it is sacrilege to speak ill of this,†he said. “But it’s still pork-barrel spending and not something federal taxpayers should be paying for.â€

The institute, to be built adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum near the University of Massachusetts at Boston campus, “will be dedicated to educating the public, students, teachers, new senators and Senate staff about the role and importance of the Senate,†according to its Web site, emkinstitute.org.

Taxpayer watchdog Ellis compared the institute to presidential libraries, which generally are privately funded.

“Considering the interest and affection for Sen. Kennedy, this could be independently funded and doesn’t need to be getting taxpayer dollars,†he said.

Meade said the center will not be a library but an “educational institute that’s a part of UMass-Boston.†He added: “Those kinds of organizations receive public money regularly.†He said he is “mindful of budget problems†at the federal level, and agreed it is “somewhat unusual†for a project affiliated with a state university to seek private money at all.

He said in an e-mail that the institute has secured $45 million in private donations and pledges. He did not respond to an e-mail asking how much of that was in hand. He said most of the funding would come from private donors, but declined to say what the public-private split would be.

Construction in October

The institute will house Kennedy’s papers and memorabilia from more than four decades in the Senate. It will include a museum, reception area, library and classrooms, according to its Web site. It will host mock Senate sessions and programs for high school and college students and incoming senators and their staffs.

Meade said plans are being finalized and renderings are not being made available to the public. Construction is to begin in October and take two and a half years, he said.

The project has gotten $38.3 million in federal earmarks in less than two years, according to data compiled by LegiStorm, a nonpartisan group that tracks congressional spending information.

That figure includes $5.81 million that Kerry and five other senators backed in the fiscal 2009 education budget. Two federal spending bills passed in December, one for defense and the other for education, included another $32.5 million for the institute. Kerry and Markey were among the members of Congress who requested those funds.

Kerry seeks even more

Kerry requested an additional $10 million late last week, his spokeswoman, Brigid O’Rourke, said in an e-mail Friday afternoon.

Markey made his most recent requests on March 20, according to two letters he wrote to the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. The first $10 million would come from the defense appropriations bill, the second $10 million from the spending bill for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, a Markey spokesman confirmed in an e-mail.

Markey’s letters say the money “would be used for program development†and in support of “the primary goal†of the institute - “to improve civics education and engagement in this country.â€

Williams criticized the vague description of how the millions would be spent. “The lack of information is typical,†he said. “There is no detail about project phases or what the money goes toward. The point is to get the ball rolling and to move the project down the road one more step.â€

In many cases, initial funding pays for architectural planning or research, Williams said. “They get it started and hope it gets far enough down the road that they can’t stop the funding,†he said.

Added Ellis: “Will this be a long-term commitment? Every year, will we be giving $10 million?â€

Ellis blasted the slipping of earmarks for the project into two bills where they can be easily hidden.

“It’s a really big bill,†he said of the Department of Defense budget. “$10 million does not stick out in Defense.â€

“This earmark has nothing to do with defending the country,†said Williams. Lt. Cmdr. Kathleen Kesler, a Defense Department spokeswoman, refused to comment.

Submitting a request as large as those sought for the Kennedy Institute doesn’t mean a member of Congress will get the full amount. However, Ellis suggested it is more likely to be filled than other requests, because it “pulls at the heartstrings because it’s for the late senator.â€

[Guest SUNTZU]

I thought this thread was going to be about an open bar.

[TripleDigitRide]

Waterfront? Drive-thru service?

[railfancwb]

It should be rolled into Boston's "Big Dig"...

[Guest SUNTZU]

Waterfront? Drive-thru service?

That's just wrong. Maybe a marina instead?

[Mike.357]

how much money is 50 million dollars? I need some perspective comparing this number to the total that gets pissed away in projects such as these.

Don't athletes make this kind of cash?

[323ssplt]

God, I was SOOOO stupid. I actually thought once Teddy kicked the bucket, that he would finally quit spending our tax money on stupid, worthless crap........

If only Mary Joe could have worked so effectively to "speak from the grave"

[Guest redbarron06]

All of this to "honor" a killer, and a person that shredded the document he swore to protect. If they build it I want to be the first person to piss on it.

[LagerHead]

how much money is 50 million dollars? I need some perspective comparing this number to the total that gets pissed away in projects such as these.

Don't athletes make this kind of cash?

Yep. But the fans pay their salaries voluntarily.

50 million: 50 million seconds is 83,333.33 minutes, 13,888.88 hours, 578 days.

The 1.2 trillion spent by Obama so far (and he's only 1/4 way through his term, boys and girls): 31,666,666,666.66 minutes, 527,777,777.77 hours, 21,990,740.74 days, 60,248 years, 600.248 centuries, 60.248 millenia

Sure, we'll reduce that deficit.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

At least he finally joined Mary Jo

[Chucktshoes]

That figure includes $5.81 million that Kerry and five other senators backed in the fiscal 2009 education budget. Two federal spending bills passed in December, one for defense and the other for education, included another $32.5 million for the institute. Kerry and Markey were among the members of Congress who requested those funds.

The first $10 million would come from the defense appropriations bill

This is what pissed me off. Robbing money from our troops and kids to build a shrine to a drunken murderer. Screw Teddy Kennedy's dead rotting corpse and screw the ignorant asshat's in congress who would do us all a favor if they would just join Mary Jo in the bottom of Chappaquidick tidal channel.

[Guest oldsmobile98]

Call me a if you want, but when I see this kind of stuff, it makes me wonder if some of these people aren't literally doing their dead-level best to precipitate a full-on economic crisis. Like Rahm Emanuel said, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste." Are they trying to make the excrement hit the fan?

10 percent unemployment, and the government isn't tightening its belt one bit. Future generations that have yet to be born would kick our butts if they knew what we were doing with their money. We haven't mortgaged their future, we've outright sold it and spent it on inexpensive prostitutes, figuratively speaking. More money, more programs ad nauseum.

I know $60 million of taxpayer money isn't going to bankrupt us. But this travesty is just a small slice of the pork pie.

I dunno. If this sounds crazy, maybe I just ate something weird today.

[323ssplt]

At least he finally joined Mary Jo

He didn't join her. Where he went it's much, MUCH hotter:death:

[Bigiron]

There are many shrines to Kennedy all over this country. You can call them shrines if you want too, but we've always called them garbage dumps.

[mcurrier]

At least he finally joined Mary Jo

I don't think so. He's in a hot, toasty place. Mary Jo is in a much, much nicer place.

btw, the liquor manufacturers are putting up most of the money for his memorial.

[Guest faust921]

For that kinda cash we should get a Kennedy Theme Park to honor all of the Dead Kennedys. Here are some of the attractions.

PT109 fun cruise - Join Jack for a frolicking cruise around the lazy river complete with burning fuel.

Marlyn Monroe Moviehouse - See the cinematic gems of The Kennedy's most famous squeeze as she sings Happy Birthday Mr. President (R-Rated).

Robert Kennedy Dinner Theater - Who killed Robert Kennedy? The mob? racists? lone nut job? Enjoy a vegan dinner and find out!

Alpine Football Slide - Look out for that tree? Catch!! Football on skis? You betcha!

Flights of Fancy - Dashing lads in their flying machines!! Get away from your stressful job saving the poor in your own private plane flight simulator! Try out the flight simulator while reading a copy of "George" magazine.

AuBar - Wet your whistle at the AuBar and try to rape one of our characters - will Teddy make a surprise appearance and come out with just his Brooks Brothers shirt and boxers??!!

1st hole putput golf w/Cousin Skakel - There only one hole in this course and you make it yourself by caving in your teen friend's head in with a golf club until it breaks. Who the hell says "No means No"?

Ambian Raceway - Race around the track on legalized dope and make it to that 2am senate vote without hitting any cop cars - don't stop! Pit at Rehab for two weeks then back on the gas to fleece the taxpayer!

But the major attraction will have you dazed and confused - The Teddy Wild Ride and Tidal Surf Pool! - Race with Teddy to the end of the island! But lookout, there's a bend in the road. Splash!! Swim in the waist deep water until you are so tired that you go back to any of the other rides and ride until you forget you were not alone! Whoops! Successfully explain to your pregnant wife about why you were out in the dark driving around with a 21 year old campaign worker and get a free drink coupon redeemable at AuBar.

Edited April 24, 2010 by faust921

[Chief07]

The Kennedy family should put up all the money. And charge admission.

They can call the place the Ted Kennedy massage palor, swim club, bar and driving school.

Just a thought.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

But he had to pass by and I imagine she slapped the

)$&@ out of him.

[Doc Huckleberry]

the SOB doesnt deserve a head stone let along a monument

[leroy]

All of this to "honor" a killer, and a person that shredded the document he swore to protect. If they build it I want to be the first person to piss on it.

Amen brother!! What a truth. I (...and many others, im sure...) are joining you in lining up to pee on this piece of trash's grave. His legacy shows what a public relations makeover can do. He has been rescued from:

• Murder or at least criminally neglegent homicide.
  
• Treason
  
• Extreme debauchery
  

The upside is that he is finally gone.

Good riddance.

Leroy

[Guest Halfpint]

If they build it I want to be the first person to piss on it.

You know, Ozzy pissed on the Alamo and got banned from the state of Texas for 10 years . . . personally, I have no reason to go to Massachusetts at all, so they can ban me FOR LIFE for all I care.

[mcurrier]

The upside is that he is finally gone.

Good riddance.

Leroy

:up:

[Kano]

[strickj]

Doesn't really matter whether or not you love the guy or hate the guy.

What matters here is the Gov should not be using tax payers money to pay for anyone's monument that is in politics.

We are not a nation to idolize politicians.

One reason this country was founded...