Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn is offering several common-sense earmarks to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill.

Here are a couple of the best ones:

* Amdt. 2810 would prohibit spending federal transportation funds on earmarks until all structurally deficient bridges in the U.S. are repaired

* Amdt. 2813 would require that the housing needs of all Louisiana residents displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are met before spending money to design or construct a Wetland Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Instead of prioritizing the funds to take care of the most pressing issues, Congress continues to earmark money for wasteful projects. And what will happen when the next bridge collapses or the next natural disaster occurs? The politicians will scream that they need more taxpayer money to rebuild. Talk about a disaster.

Labels: Pork, Sen. Tom Coburn