Congressional Democrats have dropped $475 million worth of pork dedicated to anti-smoking and anti-STD programs from the Pelosi-Reid-Obama Debt Act of 2009, CNN has learned.

Two Democratic leadership sources tell CNN they did it as a “symbolic gesture” to show Republicans they are listening to their objections.

But one of the Democratic sources also admitted that “it’s hard to explain when you’re in the midst of a crisis, why these programs are important. When people are struggling and thinking about their jobs, it’s hard to make that connection.”

Republicans, and even some Democrats, have been pointing to both of these items as prime examples of “excess spending” that doesn’t belong in this stimulus bill.

They may be great programs, but they don’t belong in a stimulus bill when the nation is in a deep recession. $475 million isn’t chump change, especially when many thousands of jobless claims are being filed weekly.

While it’s a good move to remove this bit of pork, there are many more spending items that need to be removed. $500,000 for a dog park in California or $600,000,000 (yes, $600 million) for a heritage trail in Mississippi aren’t necessary at this point. And those are just two examples.

CNN says that both Republicans and conservative Democrats are looking for more pork to be removed from this legislation. Let’s hope so.

Via HAH.