Tom coburn, a republican maverick from oklahoma known for spotlighting government waste and fighting the national debt, died saturday at the age of 72. The 2014 wastebook includes a detailed look at how federal employees. The federal spending wastebook is outrageous in more. With a brightly colored cover that blares warnings like voodoo. Click through to see some highlights from this years items. Coburn, a republican from muskogee, served in the senate from 2005 to 2015 and in the u. Each year a few of the main stream publications carry the story but its never highlighted. The oklahoma republican embodied financial stewardship, always showing great. Tom coburn has released his annual wastebook, a comprehensive look at what coburn believes is wasteful spending in washington. Between 2011 and 2014, the annual publication was called the wastebook.
Tom coburns annual wastebook its not a story you see in primetime news or even on some of the more commercial news channels. Tom coburn highlights ridiculous government spending in. Wastebook 2014 kindle edition by us senate, united. Coburn says a shortage of funds isnt the problem at the national institutes of health. What is the total amount of government waste identified by sen.
The oklahoma republican embodied financial stewardship, always showing great respect for. By stephen dinan the washington times wednesday, october 22, 2014. Wastebook 2014, a new report published wednesday, chronicles the 100 most outlandish projects on which the government burned taxpayer money this year. On april 29, 2014, coburn introduced the insurance capital standards clarification act of 2014 s. Known simply as the waste book, the report is a watchlist of eyeopening expenditures, which coburn blames on a let them eat caviar attitude in washington at a time when 23 million of our. This being coburns final wastebook, the senator goes far beyond the nihs spending and identifies 100 entries that add. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. According to cbs news, it is the fifth such annual report issued by oklahoma sen. Coburn earned a reputation for his use of this procedural mechanism.
Senator coburn highlights ridiculous government spending in final wastebook. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading wastebook 2014. Wastebook 2014 the report washington doesnt want you to read reveals the 100 most outlandish government expenditures this year, costing taxpayers billions of dollars. Maine speed humps called out in senator coburns wastebook. Year after year, senator tom coburn rok refuses to simply give lip service to wasteful government spending and has instead called out controversial. Tom coburn picks watching grass grow, synchronized swimming sea monkeys for annual wastebook from nasa to the nfl, sen. Tom coburn is going out with a bang with his final wastebook. Late last year, oklahoma republican senator tom coburn, m. The 2014 edition of the oklahoma republicans annual. Nine ways the government squandered your money, according. His departure is raising questions about who, if anyone, will pick up his oversight banner.
Tom coburn highlights ridiculous government spending in final wastebook. Tom coburn highlights ridiculous government spending in final. Tom coburn slams nih rabbit massage study amid ebola. Uncle sams stupid pet tricks, the 2014 edition of the annual wastebook, compiled by sen. The 2014 wastebook is the fifth such report released annually by coburn to highlight frivolous and outrageous spending by the federal government. Chicago tribune columnist john kass talks about senator tom coburns 2014 wastebook, a collection of government. Tom coburn rok speaks at a meeting of republican voters at the lyon county party headquarters. Tom coburn rok took particular offense after the director of the national institute of health complained that if only the government agency had more money, they would probably have a cure for ebola. Rather than describing single experiments as costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, coburns. These are just a few examples from the 100 entrylong list in a book detailing government waste, compiled by retiring gop sen. Compared to previous years, the 2014 wastebook makes a stab at transparency. Coburn is retiring at the end of this year after a decade in the senate, meaning the 239page, meticulously footnoted volume he is releasing wednesday will be his final wastebook as senator. Senators wastebook notes that getting rid of the practice of pork barrel spending is next to impossible. Tom coburn and his investigators have been busy in their most recent effort to unveil what they view as government waste and abuse.
We took to the streets to find out what everyone else thinks about the way the government is spending your tax dollars. Tom coburn, a physician who became a powerful voice in congress on government spending and waste, died early saturday after a long fight with prostate cancer. Wastebook 2014 kindle edition by us senate, united states government, coburn m. Tom coburn has released the latest installment of his annual wastebook, detailing questionable government spending. Senator coburn highlights ridiculous government spending. A disturbing theme found in the report is that many federal employees receive full pay and benefits to either not perform government work or for activity totally unrelated to what they were hired to do. In november 2009 coburn drew attention for placing a hold on a veterans benefits bill known as the veterans caregiver and omnibus health. Tom coburns annual wastebook highlights the strangest, silliest and. Senators wastebook has everything that will fit in a.
Tom coburns annual wastebook, a ranking of 2014s top 100 worst examples of government waste, including outofthisworld spending on research. With no one watching over the vast bureaucracy, the problem is not just what washington isnt doing, but what it is doing. Washingtonbusiness wiretoday, citizens against government waste cagw reacted with enthusiasm to the release of sen. Dueling agencies citizens against government waste. Tom coburn was a hero among fiscal conservatives and endless source of inspiration and courage. Coburn is retiring at the end of this year after a decade in the senate, meaning the 239page, meticulously footnoted volume he released wednesday will be his final wastebook as senator. Coburn used the senate hold privilege to prevent several bills from coming to the senate floor. Tom coburns legacy citizens against government waste. Tom coburn, the retiring senior republican senator from oklahoma and notorious deficit hawk, has released a. Tom coburn, and seeks to highlight the inefficiencies of our bloated federal bureaucracy. Coburns final 2014 wastebook is funny, sad, and outrageous. Oklahoma republican senator tom coburn s final edition of his wastebook lists 100 ways that the federal government is wasting taxpayer dollars on wacky, useless, and exasperating projects. More conservative news outlets pay close attention.
Nine ways the government squandered your money, according to. Coburns wastebook targets include mountain lions, sheep. In response, coburn revealed five ways the nih is wasting taxpayer money according the new 2014 wastebook. Tom coburns annual wastebook, a ranking of 2014s top 100 worst examples of government. Nine ways the government squandered your money, according to sen. Oklahoma republican senator tom coburns final edition of his wastebook lists 100 ways that the federal government is. Jeff flake, who inherited the wastebook when coburn retired after the 2014 edition, is definitely trying hard. From 2008 until he retired from the senate in january 2015, sen. Tom coburn, the retiring senior republican senator from oklahoma and notorious deficit hawk, has released a massive annual report ripping into the federal government.