Buildings and Bridges Were Made to Bend in the Wind

There is an amedment on the senate floor as we speak to remove especially pork-y funds from the recent highways bill and redirect it to rebuilding the Gulf Coast. The bill is being sponsored by Tom Coburn (R-OK) and has attracted support from a very diverse group, ranging from liberal blogger kos, the Club for Growth, and the Sierra Club (my kind of unholy alliance!). This amendment would specifically cancel the "Bridge to Nowhere" and Don Young Way in Alaska and would direct $454-million to the Katrina reconstruction. A similar amendment proposed by Coburn and directed at projects in Rhode Island, Washington, and Nebraska was rejected by the senate (roll call vote here).

Apparently, Ted Stevens (R-AK) has said he will resign if the amendment passes. Now, I'm not normally one to pray...

UPDATE: Sadly, the amednment has failed, 15-82. Here's a list of senators with the balls to stand up against government pork:

Tom Coburn (R-OK), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Jim DeMint (R-SC), David Vitter (R-LA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), John Sununu (R-NH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Burr (R-NC), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Kent Conrad (D-ND), George Allen (R-VA)

The rest of them were too scared it would open the door to them losing their own pet projects.