What Wasteful Spending?

Gambling monkeys, dancing zombies and mountain lions on treadmills are just a few projects exposed in Wastebook 2014 – highlighting $25 billion in Washington’s worst spending of the year.

We’ve already spent a fortune on a study of shrimp on a treadmill – this time the study is about mountain lions on a treadmill. It’s only costing $856,000 of hard-earned taxpayer money. What a bargain.

Senator Tom Coburn has created Wastebook each year to highlight excessive government spending on so-called pet projects. You’re in for a treat this year

“With no one watching over the vast bureaucracy, the problem is not just what Washington isn’t doing, but what it is doing.” Dr. Coburn said. “Only someone with too much of someone else’s money and not enough accountability for how it was being spent could come up some of these projects.”

“I have learned from these experiences that Washington will never change itself. But even if the politicians won’t stop stupid spending, taxpayers always have the last word.”

A bill requiring NASA to build a $350 million launch pad tower, was mothballed as soon as it was completed. The rockets it was designed to test had been scrapped years ago. Similarly, when USDA attempted to close a sheep research station costing nearly $2 million every year to operate, politicians in the region stepped in to keep it open.

Examples of wasteful spending highlighted in “Wastebook 2014” include:

· Coast guard party patrols – $100,000

· Watching grass grow – $10,000

· Spending $50,000 on Hillary Clinton’s book tour

· State department tweets @ terrorists – $3 million

· Swedish massages for rabbits – $387,000

· Paid vacations for bureaucrats gone wild – $20 million

· Mountain lions on a treadmill – $856,000

· Synchronized swimming for sea monkeys – $50,000

· Pentagon to destroy $16 billion in unused ammunition -- $1 billion

· Scientists hope monkey gambling unlocks secrets of free will –$171,000

· Rich and famous rent out their luxury pads tax free – $10 million

· Studying “hangry” spouses stabbing voodoo dolls – $331,000

· Promoting U.S. culture around the globe with nose flutists – $90 million

Need we say more?  Senator Coburn, our intrepid watchdog, is retiring.  We hope someone will help to continue his work.