Cochran said he does n't `` accept the premise '' of the group 's claim that `` any and all federal spending not specifically requested by the Executive Branch is wasteful and irresponsible . '' `` The Congress is vested with the power to appropriate funds to be spent by the federal government by the U. S. Constitution . We will continue to carry out that responsibility with care and a commitment to serve the public interest , '' he said . `` There were several candidates for the Narcissist Award , '' Tom Schatz , the president of the group said . Read the group 's 2008 report `` But this one went to House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel for the Charles Rangel Public Service Center at the City College of New York -- $ 1,950,000 -LSB- for a project -RSB- that he named after himself . '' Rangel , a Democrat from New York , said last summer he was `` honored that City College chose to have my name attached to what is an important project , not just for the residents of my congressional district , but for New York City and this nation
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A watchdog group critical of pork barrel spending released its latest findings Wednesday targeting the top Congressional `` porkers . '' Some of the pork projects , according to the group , include a Lobster Institute ; the Rocky Flats , Colorado , Cold War Museum ; and the First Tee , a program to build young people 's character through golf . Members of Congress requested funds for all these pet projects and thousands of others last year , according to the latest copy of the annual `` Pig Book '' released by Citizens Against Government Waste . `` Congress stuffed 11,610 projects '' worth $ 17.2 billion into a dozen spending bills , the group said in the report released Wednesday . The `` Pig Book '' names dozens of what the citizens group considers the most egregious porkers , the lawmakers who funnel money to projects on their home turf . Interactive : Pork barrel spending '' Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi , the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee , requested the most money , $ 892.2 million , according to the group . In a statement to CNN ,