Congressman Steve Russell, a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today released his April 2015 edition of Waste Watch. A similar compilation of wasteful spending was published annually by former Senator Tom Coburn.
The April 2015 edition of Waste Watch documents 10 different situations where the federal government spent tax payer dollars—or allowed them to be spent—unwisely, including Gatsby-esque parties in Pennsylvania, training facilities in Afghanistan that literally melted in the rain, and even an anti-U.S. movie. The total amount of wasted tax payer dollars documented in this report is in excess of $117 million.
Speaking about the new publication, Russell said, “Every year we see money spent on waste, fraud, and abuse, and I want to continue to highlight some of these instances. Many of these projects were well intentioned, but end up costing the American people millions if not billions of dollars with unintended, but preventable consequences. Hopefully, by continuing to point out these financial mistakes, we can adjust our spending habits and find better ways to accomplish the same goals in a fiscally responsible and efficient manner.”
Senator Coburn, who retired from office last year, a staunch advocate for cutting government waste, and also known for his annual Wastebook, added, “To eliminate government waste, you must first identify and expose it. I am proud Oklahoma Congressman Steve Russell is doing just that with his Waste Watch. Every other member of Congress should follow Steve’s lead and do their part to protect taxpayer dollars.”
A full copy of the first edition of Waste Watch is available here on Russell’s website.
