Senator Tom Coburn offered several amendments to an appropriations bill yesterday. The most notable of these would have saved $454 million by cutting two dubious pork projects in Alaska. The fury Coburn aroused in his colleagues bordered on the absurd. Senator Patty Murray of Washington made threats to Coburn and anyone who voted with him. Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska actually threatened to resign on the Senate floor.
Keep in mind that, from the current $2.5 trillion federal budget, you need four decimal places before that $454 million even shows up.
The amendment failed by 15-82, a margin of 67 votes. The Senate can’t even bear to cut 0.02% of the federal budget without someone threatening to resign. Is it really that hard?
Grow up, children.
Excellent coverage of the whole fiasco is at The Club for Growth, The Daily Kos, and at National Journal.
Inertia Wins! 