Sen. Tom Coburn has released his annual "Wastebook" citing egregious examples of government waste resulting from what he calls "mismanagement and stupidity."
These examples "collectively cost nearly $30 billion in a year when Washington would have you believe everything that could be done has been done to control unnecessary spending," the Oklahoma Republican said.
"The Army National Guard spent $10 million on Superman movie tie-ins while plans were being made to cut the strength of the Guard by 8,000 soldiers," he pointed out. "And while nutrition assistance was being reduced for many needy families, USDA was spending money on celebrity chef cook-offs and running up the taxpayer tab on Bloody Marys, sweet potato vodka, and red wine tastings from here to China."
The examples from "Wastebook 2013" include:
$50 million to National Technical Information Services, which charges for reports that can often be found for free through a Google search. $17.5 million for special tax exemptions for Nevada brothels, including tax deductions for prostitutes' wages, rent and utilities, and even "breast implants and ... costumes." $297 million for the Army's "mega-blimp," or Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle. Intended for use in Afghanistan, it made only one trip, a flight over New Jersey, and was sold back to the contractor for just $301,000. $384,989 for a Yale University study, "Sexual Conflict, Social Behavior and the Evolution of Waterfowl Genitalia." $65 million for Superstorm Sandy emergency funds that were used to pay for tourism ads for New York and New Jersey. $125,000 for NASA's project to create a 3-D pizza "printer" that makes synthesized food for astronauts. $284,300 to allow 12 music label executives and one government official to travel to Brazil to promote American music in foreign markets. $125,000 for a documentary, "Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle," examining the history of comics. $7 billion for the Pentagon to destroy vehicles and other military equipment used in conflicts in the Middle East rather than sell them.
Said Coburn: "When it comes to spending your money, those in Washington tend to see no waste, speak no waste, and cut no waste."
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