MediaWatch: December 1992
Table of Contents:
- MediaWatch: December 1992
- Networks Select One "Year of the Woman" Over Another
- NewsBites: Clinton Tilt
- Revolving Door: Too Randy
- Post-Election Economic Numbers Embarrass Negative Media
- Post-Election Gushing
- Martin's Money
- Herbert's Hunger Hype
- Janet Cooke Award: Gumbel Consults Only Far-Left TransAfrica
Martin's Money
In contrast to the typical media call for increased government spending to solve every problem, ABC's weekly World News Tonight "Your Money" segment by John Martin has assailed wasteful, pork barrel government spending since it began October 5.
On November 23, referring to the Liberty Science Center, a New Jersey educational center funded by over 100 corporations, Martin noted that "despite criticism that the money wasn't needed" the New Jersey congressional delegation "got Congress to add $15 million dollars to the Pentagon budget, and ordered it spent on Liberty."
Another Martin report, on October 19, exposed House Minority leader Bob Michel's exertions on behalf of his hometown of Peoria, arranging for the forgiveness of a $5 million federal loan to the city. Martin explained that Michel "wrote a bill that, in effect, gave Peoria the money it owed by forgiving the loan."
In other reports Martin brought to light wasteful government spending projects such as pickle research, federal honey subsides, Secret Service protection for ex-Presidents long out of office and their relatives, unneeded radio transmitters in Israel, and cost overruns on Army Corps of Engineers projects.
