Sen Tom Coburn Catalogues worst of Government Waste (View 2013 Wastebook)

This year's installment of Sen. Tom Coburn's annual Wastebook may make politicians on both sides of the aisle squirm with discomfort: It documents extravagant federal government waste in a year when many complained that sequestration left nothing to cut.   

"We've had the Defense Department and people in the other non-Defense discretionary departments screaming the cupboard is bare. There's nothing else to cut. The fact is that just isn't true," the Oklahoma Republican told reporters as he unveiled the 2013 Wastebook on Tuesday. 

The Department of Defense comes under special scrutiny in Coburn’s report.

Despite a warning last July 31 from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel that under sequestration, "We risk fielding a force that is unprepared due to a lack of training, maintenance, and the latest equipment," Coburn found DoD is leaving 2,000 MRAP's -- Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles -- behind in Afghanistan to be destroyed rather than delivered to other bases. 

MRAP's were rushed through the procurement process in 2007, as I.E.D attacks took an increasing toll on NATO forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each MRAP cost $500,000 to build, Coburn’s report says. 

The report documents how Congress authorized the purchase of 21 C-27 transport planes manufactured in Italy, despite testimony from a former Air Force chief of staff in August of 2012 that under sequestration cuts, the Air Force didn't want the plane. He also testified the C-130 could do the job better.

Read the rest of the story HERE, view the Wastebook and view a related video below:



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