Sen. Coburn's War on Rotating Lights and Zero-Gravity Chairs

Oklahoma's junior senator, Dr. Tom Coburn, has long campaigned against unnecessary government spending and federal waste.

That campaign would explain Coburn's amendment to the proposed stimulus bill now before the senate.

Here's the complete text of the good doctor's amendment (emphasis added):

None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project, including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture, zero-gravity chairs, big-screen televisions, beautification, rotating pastel lights, and dry heat saunas.

The explanation for Coburn's ire: As Talking Points Memo has reported, Coburn is ticked off at the Centers for Disease Control, which last year spent $35,000 to add zero-gravity chairs, lights, and a sauna to its Atlanta employee gym.

As TPM puts it: The moral of the story is, do not piss off Sen. Coburn.