Sen. James Lankford (R., Okla.) released his own edition of his predecessor Tom Coburn’s Wastebook on Monday, highlighting 100 examples of frivolous spending and abuses of taxpayer dollars.
"Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball" features several examples of wasteful spending first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, including a National Institutes of Health weight loss program for truckers that is costing $2.6 million.
"The American economy is powered in no small part by the thousands of trucks on the road each day," Lankford wrote in his report. "It is certainly important for individuals behind the wheel of giant 18- wheelers to be healthy. But do taxpayers really need to spend more than $2.6 million on a trucker weight-loss intervention program?"
The Washington Times led its write up of Lankford’s report with a National Science Foundation study on the "ups and downs" of older Americans’ dating lives, which was first reported by the Free Beacon. At the time the study was revealed in August, the project had cost taxpayers $185,850. The total for the senior adult dating study now stands at $374,087.
"Unless this ‘federal Match.com’ for seniors develops policy solutions to bring down the debt, maybe this one is better left to the private sector," Lankford said.
The report also featured a Free Beacon report on a $1.2 million National Science Foundation study that is building robots that can dress the elderly, what Lankford calls "Getting dressed, Jetsons style."
An Obama administration grant worth $13,810 to put solar panels on a Wyoming brewery was also included.
Lankford referenced the Free Beacon for its reporting on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service’s secret settlement of $1.3 billion in improper hospital claims.
"Cited here are not only prime examples of wasteful spending, but also federal departments or agencies that regulate outside the scope of the federal government’s constitutional role," Lankford said. "I firmly believe my staff and I have the obligation to solve the troubles of our nation, not just complain, which is why for every problem identified, you will also find a recommended solution."
"There is a way to eliminate wasteful, ineffective, or duplicative program spending; develop oversight methods to prevent future waste; and find ways to get us back on track," he said.