Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has unveiled the 2024 March Earmark Madness Tournament, which highlights 16 controversial earmarks from the $1.2 trillion spending bill under consideration by Congress. Senator Paul referred to these earmarks as the "Shameful 16," criticizing the use of taxpayer funds for individual Senators' pet projects.

Among the earmarks included in the tournament are allocations such as $2 million to the University of Maine for a kelp and shellfish nursery, $1.5 million for Game On New York to expand the gaming industry, and $250,000 for the Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education Archives in West Virginia.

Senator Paul's tournament aims to shed light on what he deems as wasteful spending, with earmarks ranging from funding for cultural competency training for medical staff to culinary training programs and clean energy startups. The tournament will feature four single elimination rounds conducted on Dr. Paul's X account on March 22, starting at 9 a.m. ET.

According to Senator Paul's announcement, the 2024 March Earmark Madness Tournament bracket will be available for viewing, and participants can follow and vote on the earmarks through @SenRandPaul on social media platforms.

The initiative by Senator Rand Paul seeks to increase transparency and public awareness regarding earmarks in the spending bill, urging constituents to engage in the process by participating in the tournament voting.