Senator cries pork over state's stimulus $$$
SEATTLE -- Microsoft, pot and fish protection all have one thing in common: Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., thinks they're nothing but pork.
The three are all Washington state projects being funded by President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus fund.
But they're pork, not progress, according to Coburn, who included the three in his list of 100 projects he considers a waste of funds.
They include $11 million to help build a Highway 520 overpass in Redmond to connect parts of the Microsoft Corp. campus, $148,000 for Washington State University-Vancouver to study the use of marijuana with medications like morphine, and $18 million from the Bureau of Reclamation to help the state grow fish.
"We are borrowing money that we don't have to spend on things that we don't need in the name of economic stimulus when there is things we could spend it on that we do need," Coburn said.
Microsoft, the state's second largest employer has the support of Redmond Mayor John Marchione.
"Microsoft always attracts headlines so throwing a dart at Microsoft is an easy target," he said.
The White House said the money being spent on the marijuana study is one of 40 projects still under review. However, the $18 million for fish, which will be used to repair the fish hatchery at Leavenworth, is secure as the White house says the repairs are necessary to protect endangered species.
The three are all Washington state projects being funded by President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus fund.
But they're pork, not progress, according to Coburn, who included the three in his list of 100 projects he considers a waste of funds.
They include $11 million to help build a Highway 520 overpass in Redmond to connect parts of the Microsoft Corp. campus, $148,000 for Washington State University-Vancouver to study the use of marijuana with medications like morphine, and $18 million from the Bureau of Reclamation to help the state grow fish.
"We are borrowing money that we don't have to spend on things that we don't need in the name of economic stimulus when there is things we could spend it on that we do need," Coburn said.
Microsoft, the state's second largest employer has the support of Redmond Mayor John Marchione.
"Microsoft always attracts headlines so throwing a dart at Microsoft is an easy target," he said.
The White House said the money being spent on the marijuana study is one of 40 projects still under review. However, the $18 million for fish, which will be used to repair the fish hatchery at Leavenworth, is secure as the White house says the repairs are necessary to protect endangered species.