Time to correct another oversight here at Porkbusters: if you were wondering exactly why Trent Lott is quite so tired of "the so-called porkbusters", the answer is: a railroad!

This railroad, to be precise:

RAILROAD TO NOWHERE?

The costly rail project near Gulfport, Miss., that has been sought locally for decades has been slipped into the emergency appropriations bill as part of Hurricane Katrina reconstruction.

Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, added $700 million on grounds that "the tracks were extensively damaged during Hurricane Katrina." Actually, the new project would destroy a newly repaired section of the railroad. The Mississippi Governor's Commission, in its final report to Gov. Haley Barbour last December, said the Gulfport railroad plan "is no longer seen as practical."

The emergency appropriations bill and what is being called the railroad to nowhere are expected to come to the Senate floor the week of April 24, after the lawmakers return from their Easter recess.

Mississippi... Trent Lott... beginning to see the connection?

Local Gulf Coast blogger Sandra "Alasandra" Alawine puts it this way:

According to the MS Press the $700 million to move the CSX rail line isn't pork it's progress! But considering that many residents of the Gulf Coast are living in FEMA trailers; I believe the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Why was CSX allowed to repair the rail line (which is now fully functional) if the government was going to buy them out?

Why isn't money being sought to rebuild the public schools, libraries and government buildings destroyed by Katrina?

Why isn't money being sought to restore the utilities destroyed by Katrina?

Why, indeed? Alasandra is attacking this particular pork project in the best possible way: at the local level, on the ground. She's set up a petition here for citizens to sign up and voice their opposition to the deal.

This particular pork project is one that we will be focusing on closely in the coming weeks at Porkbusters, and I'm pleased to announce that Alasandra has accepted our invitation to blog her local perspective on the issue right here at Porkbusters.org. So stay tuned for more updates and news from Alasandra as well as the rest of us at Porkbusters --- and go sign the petition!