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"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" Award
Golden Fleece Award
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THE WASTE BASKET
CURRENT FLEECES

REP. DON YOUNG WINS GOLDEN FLEECE AWARD FOR "BRIDGE TO NOWHERE"

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“The Fleece of the Month is a rite that is often imitated but never equaled.”
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

From surfing subsidies to the Great Wall of Bedford, Indiana, Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire’s Golden Fleece Award protected taxpayers … and made them laugh! One of the most popular and enduring icons of American politics, Senator Proxmire’s Golden Fleece Award embodied both outrage and humor as it put the public spotlight on waste and abuse of taxpayer money. More About the Fleece...

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the famous waste-busting award, Senator Proxmire asked Taxpayers for Common Sense to revive the Golden Fleece Award.  The first revised Golden Fleece was awarded to the FAA for fleecing taxpayers out of a half a billion dollars in lost taxpayer revenue at the Tampa International Airport.

In honor of Senator Proxmire, Taxpayers for Common Sense has also, for the first time ever, collected the complete history of the Golden Fleece for the education and enjoyment of taxpayers of all generations. Working from the Senator's files, TCS has summarized the 14-year history of fleeces from 1975 to 1988. From this list, TCS has also selected its favorite awards and presents them here in a Golden Fleece Top Ten List.

"The Wisconsin Democrat has long been the taxpayer’s champion in Congress.”
The Wall Street Journal

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