Oklahoma Senator Produces Federal Government “Wastebook”

In his second annual “wastebook,“ entitled Federal Fumbles: 100 Ways the Government Dropped the Ball, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) outlines what he refers to as a “small fraction of the wasteful and duplicative spending from our government over the last few years.”

The compilation also includes what Lankford says are “just a few regulations that cost business and families billions each year,” and offers recommendations to cut an estimated $250 billion.

“We need to have this Congress more engaged in oversight,” said Lankford. “We need to have an administration engaged in oversight, and regardless of who’s in the White House or who’s in this Congress, we should address these issues.”

A member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), Lankford chairs its subcommittee on federal management subcommittee. At a press conference, he said the wastebook is meant to encourage a way of thinking about government spending.

“This is not intended to be exhaustive. This is a set of ideas to say this is the kind of stuff that we can look for and should look for,” Lankford said.

Other members of the Senate have produced similar “wastebooks” in recent years, including Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ), John McCain (R-AZ) and Rand Paul (R-KY).