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Sadly, Coburn's pork-busting is rebuked
By Editorial
The Oklahoman
October 24, 2005
SEN. Tom Coburn recently sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter to fellow senators, questioning the basis for pork barrel spending when there are more pressing priorities. Last week he got his answer: Shut up.
By wide margins, the Oklahoma Republican's attempts to trim millions of dollars from the aptly named "THUD" appropriation -- for the Treasury, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development departments -- were slam-dunked by senators more concerned with bringing home the bacon than looking out for the taxpayers.
Coburn's chief target was a good chunk of the $223 million earmarked to build a bridge in Alaska, the "bridge to nowhere," so named because of the tiny population it would serve. Before that came to a vote, he took aim at a handful of other projects, including money for a parking lot in Omaha, Neb., and a sculpture garden in Seattle.
Alas, Coburn had broken an unwritten rule in the Senate: Thou shalt not mess with other senators' earmarks. Indeed, senators from Nebraska and Washington scurried to the chamber to defend their pork. Washington's Patty Murray lobbed a veiled threat back at Coburn, saying attempts to cut funds for the project in her state would cause her and other members of the Appropriations Committee to take a look at projects in Oklahoma.
Call it log-rolling in the reverse -- or hardball politics. Coburn's bid was defeated 89-13.
As for the main event, the Alaskan bridge, Coburn hoped to redirect funds from that project to the reconstruction of a bridge in Louisiana that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. But he fared no better, his amendment failing 82-15.
Surely, the result was no surprise. Coburn has tilted at the windmills before, arousing ire on both sides of the political aisle from colleagues intent on getting their share from the federal trough.
Certainly, there's nothing wrong with a state's representatives standing up for local interests.
Coburn's intent was to force senators to examine whether it's right to conduct business as usual when there's a war going on, an important city and region to be rebuilt and federal deficits running out as far as the eye can see.
We know the counter arguments. Pork is what you call someone else's project. Community development block grants and other economic aids are important because they improve towns and cities and help create private-sector jobs. But there are times, like now, when Congress has to recognize higher priorities and adjust its spending habits.
We commend Coburn for forcing the debate, risking the wrath of others in the Senate. It's an important discussion we hope Coburn and some others continue in the future.
Senator Tom Coburn's activity on the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2254 Fax: 202-228-3796
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