Questionable Pork or Stimulus Progress?

By NW Digest Team at June 19th, 2009.

KOMO 4 reports: “Senator Cries Pork Over State’s Stimulus $$$.”

KING 5’s Glenn Farley also covered the story.

If you think Coburn was picking on Washington State, read his report: “List of 100 Questionable ‘Stimulus’ Projects.” Oregon projects also made the crosshairs: #82 – $4.2 million to raise train tracks 18 inches; and #83 – $1 million for bike lockers.

According to Senator Coburn’s Twitter profile, one of his top priorities is stopping “wasteful Washington spending.” As noted in the two TV broadcast reports above, local officials were quick to defend the spending.

We’ve put in a request for comment from Senator Coburn to see if, in light of the reports above, he still believes the projects are questionable.

What do you think of the projects? Are they wasteful, and should they have been included in the stimulus spending? Respond in the comments, and we’ll post your thoughts in a future editorial.

Tags: ARRA, Coburn's 100 List, Leavenworth fish hatchery, Microsoft, Pork Projects, Stimulus Bill, Tom Coburn, WSU pot research