Yesterday, Senator Tom Coburn and Senator John McCain released a report entitled Stimulus Checkup: A closer look at 100 projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Their findings, while infuriating, are not surprising and serve to reinforce why I adamantly opposed the stimulus from day one and why I voted against it. Here’s an excerpt from their report:

“Nine months later, with over $200 billion of stimulus funding already spent, the rolls of the unemployed have grown by millions and, by any measure, more jobs have been lost than created.

“Since the stimulus bill was enacted in February, nearly three million Americans have lost their jobs and the percentage of people without work has risen to 10 percent.”

I would encourage you to read through Senator Coburn and Senator McCain’s report, using the link above. But, in case you’re short on time, I have highlighted ten of the most questionable stimulus projects uncovered in this most recent report. As you review these projects, keep in mind they were all paid for with our hard-earned dollars.

10. $4.7 Million for research to develop supersonic corporate jets
9. $54 Million to relocate the Napa Wine Train
8. $94,902 to study the Icelandic arctic environment in the Viking Age
7. $150,000 to develop the next generation of football gloves
6. $50 Million for fish food
5. $6,4 Million construction contract awarded to firm under criminal investigation
4. $1.3 Million for Amtrak, despite the fact that Amtrak loses $32 per passenger
3. $750,000 to give climate-controlled water taxis a new home
2. $100,000 to fund anti-capitalist, socially-conscious puppet shows
1. $389,357 to pay Buffalo residents to keep daily journals of malt liquor and marijuana use