Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has unveiled the 2024 March Earmark Madness Tournament, featuring 16 earmarks from the $1.2 trillion spending bill under consideration in Congress. Senator Paul's selection of the "Shameful 16," which represent questionable use of taxpayer funds, includes a diverse range of projects across different states.

Among the earmarks are allocations such as "$2M to the University of Maine for the construction of a kelp and shellfish nursery" and "$388K to Columbia University in New York, a private university with a $13.6 billion endowment." These projects have come under scrutiny for their allocation of taxpayer dollars to specific interests.

The tournament, set to have four single elimination rounds, will be hosted on Dr. Paul’s X account on Friday, March 22, starting at 9 a.m. ET. Citizens are encouraged to follow the proceedings and participate by voting on the earmarks they find most objectionable. The voting can be done by following @SenRandPaul.

The announcement of the 2024 March Earmark Madness Tournament by Senator Rand Paul is a part of his ongoing efforts to bring attention to questionable spending practices and promote transparency in government allocations.