Citizens Against Government Waste have named Senate Minority Leader (D-NV) as their “Porker of the Month. for earmarking almost $36 million in the fiscal 2006 Energy and Water Appropriations bill for 17 energy-related projects in his home state. As ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Sen. Reid diverted about one-fifth of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s budget to projects in his home state.

Sen. Reid’s actions weaken the effectiveness of basic energy research while giving the illusion of contributing to it. The earmarks divert funds from peer-reviewed, agency-requested scientific research to his own pet projects. For example, Sen. Reid’s earmarks include $3.5 million to create a new National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Nevada.

As a result, the Department of Energy (DOE) will cut funding for research already taking place at other labs. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado will lay off as many as 100 scientists, or 11 percent of its total staff, mostly as a consequence of congressional earmarking.

It’s nice to know Senator Reid has time to screw the whole country when he isn’t holding press conferences to slander President Bush and lie about the war on terror.