Bill would rescind unused transportation earmarks

Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) has introduced a bill to rescind outdated earmarks for transportation projects.

Lankford, who is running for Senate to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), cited a report commissioned by Coburn’s office finding that many Department of Transportation projects have remained dormant over the years.

{mosads}The bill, titled the Orphan Earmarks Act, would eliminate earmarked funds in Department of Transportation accounts that still had at least 90 percent left unobligated after 10 years.

“Instead of sustaining communities and supporting the taxpayers who contributed the money, $120 million is abandoned on a federal balance sheet,” Lankford said. “We must go through every area of the federal budget to isolate waste and abandoned projects.”

Lankford’s legislation would further require the Department of Transportation to submit an annual report on which projects received earmarked funding.

Coburn and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) have introduced similar legislation in the Senate.