With the federal government poised to face billions of dollars in cuts, a key senator is calling on the White House to halt an administration effort to highlight more government spending.
Sen. Tom Coburn, in a letter to the White House budget office, told officials to cancel a planned 100-city tour designed to showcase places where federal taxpayers’ money can be spent by localities.
“If Washington is truly cutting spending on missions many consider vital, how can we at the same time promise and promote more financial assistance, much less afford this mammoth 100-city cross-country tour?” the Oklahoma Republican said in his letter.
The first stop of the tour was Beaverton, Ore., though it was not clear what the other 99 cities are on the list.
Federal spending is poised to see an $85 billion cut next week if President Obama and Congress don’t act to avert the reductions, which they set in motion as part of the deal to let Mr. Obama raise the debt ceiling in 2011.
Mr. Coburn demanded to know how much the Beaverton trip cost taxpayers, and questioned its usefulness. He said the city already appears adept at getting federal money and so there as no need to send government officials there to highlight it.
According to the Oregonian, Beaverton received $2 million in federal funds for urban revitalization over the last two years.
