Let's Cut Some Spending: $3 million on blueberries in Maine

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Remember the absolutely critical Omnibus spending bill Congress muscled through at the end of last year? It was 4,000 pages that no one read and cost taxpayers $1.7 trillion.

In our Let's Cut Some Spending series, ForAmerica will chronicle parts of the 2021 and 2022 spending bills from a variety of sources that you probably don't know about - programs, grants and spending of all kinds that should have never happened in the first place and many that are still happening.

Today’s offering: $3 million on blueberry production in Maine!

WABI reports:

An assistant professor at the University of Maine has been awarded $3 million by the USDA for research on the Spotted-Wing Drosophila.

Dr. Philip Fanning is leading a team of scientists to look for a way to control the pest in a more environmentally and economically sustainable manner.

The bug has had a dramatic effect on the wild blueberry crop in Maine as well as other berries throughout the country.

Fanning is also being assisted by a team of technicians, graduate students, and undergrads.

“It’ll be a research learning experience. It’s just great to work with undergraduates and give them that chance to experience research as well. It’s really exciting when they grasp it and when they get into the research,” Fanning said.

Fanning’s project is one of 18 grants awarded by the National Institute for Food and Agriculture’s Organic Research and Extension Initiative.

Look. We love a blueberry. Who doesn't?

But WHY is $3 million of our tax dollars going to study blueberries?!?

We like french fries, steak and milkshakes too. But where, constitutionally, morally, ethically, does it say Americans should be taxed to support the french fry, steak, and milkshake industries?

Most Americans right now are trying to deal with the crushing effects of rocketing inflation.

And $3 million of our tax dollars just went to blueberries.

You can't make this up.