Saturday, October 22, 2005
Senate operating in full stupid mode
Last post, I noted hopeful signs of congressional intelligence. Unfortunately, the rational interlude was short-lived.
The Senate voted 82-15 to table the Coburn amendment. The Coburn amendment was the provision that would have reallocated $223 million in pork spending for Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere" to Katrina reconstruction. If you're not familiar with the issue, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R-Ak), possibly the world's champion pork collector, secured total funding of $320 million federal dollars to build a bridge to an island off Alaska with 50 inhabitants. The island has ferry service. For a pretty good, detailed piece on this ridiculous bridge project, look here.
Senator Tom Coburn (R-Ok) proposed to reallocate that money to Katrina reconstruction, and specifically to bridge reconstruction.
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wa) actually said during debate that for anyone voting for the amendment, "we on the Appropriations Committee will take a 'long, hard look' at any projects in your state."
Nice, huh? The Senate Appropriations committee is apparently now operating a protection racket to insure the continued ability of US Senators to spend vast amounts of tax dollars on stupid, wasteful projects.
Didn't these 50 people notice it was an island before they moved there? Didn't the ferry ride to look at the property clue them in? Do they really have any right to expect the taxpayers of the United States to spend around FIVE MILLION DOLLARS per person to furnish them with a bridge?
Unfortunately, this idiotic expenditure is not unique, and it is nothing new. And apparently, this kind of crap is going to continue.
"Damn the taxpayers, full speed ahead."
The Senate voted 82-15 to table the Coburn amendment. The Coburn amendment was the provision that would have reallocated $223 million in pork spending for Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere" to Katrina reconstruction. If you're not familiar with the issue, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R-Ak), possibly the world's champion pork collector, secured total funding of $320 million federal dollars to build a bridge to an island off Alaska with 50 inhabitants. The island has ferry service. For a pretty good, detailed piece on this ridiculous bridge project, look here.
Senator Tom Coburn (R-Ok) proposed to reallocate that money to Katrina reconstruction, and specifically to bridge reconstruction.
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wa) actually said during debate that for anyone voting for the amendment, "we on the Appropriations Committee will take a 'long, hard look' at any projects in your state."
Nice, huh? The Senate Appropriations committee is apparently now operating a protection racket to insure the continued ability of US Senators to spend vast amounts of tax dollars on stupid, wasteful projects.
Didn't these 50 people notice it was an island before they moved there? Didn't the ferry ride to look at the property clue them in? Do they really have any right to expect the taxpayers of the United States to spend around FIVE MILLION DOLLARS per person to furnish them with a bridge?
Unfortunately, this idiotic expenditure is not unique, and it is nothing new. And apparently, this kind of crap is going to continue.
"Damn the taxpayers, full speed ahead."
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]