Senate Vote Saves Spending for Squirrel Sanctuaries

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Human Events:

A sanctuary for white squirrels, an antique bicycle museum and a giant roadside coffee pot are some of the projects that can still be funded with gas-tax dollars meant for highway construction after the Senate defeated a measure to strip such spending.

The amendment was offered by Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.) on Wednesday to a massive spending bill, but was tabled 59 to 39. The measure would have lifted a federal requirement that 10% of highway funding to states be used for beautification or historical projects.

“I think bicycle museums are really nice, but it’s also a fact more people drive over dangerous bridges every day than go to McDonald's,” McCain said.

The Arizona deficit hawk, known for targeting government waste, said one museum used $440,000 in government funding for antique bikes, and he held up several pictures of the projects, including a photograph of a beautification development of decorative rocks that cost nearly $500,000.

“I think this squirrel sanctuary is probably an important thing, but who loves this boulder?” McCain asked.

“The fact is we have dangerous bridges, we have highways that need repair. Let the states decide their priorities and not force states to put aside 10% of funding for so called transportation-enhancement activities,” McCain said.

“This is a fundamental philosophical difference about where taxpayer dollars go and who decides,” McCain said. “We should not be forcing people to spend money on things that are not necessary anymore.”

The McCain amendment also would have prohibited funds to be used on scenic or historic highway programs, tourist centers, landscaping, outdoor advertising or transportation museums.