“Rather than growing our economy, the overall impact of stimulus spending may prove to be harmful to our economy. For example, Washington’s efforts to ‘stimulate’ the economy are increasing utility costs, repairing bridges nobody uses, building tunnels for turtles, and renovating extravagant train stations in remote areas while widely-used bridges and roads in poor shape are passed over,” Coburn said.

Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, voted for the bill; Reps. Tom Cole, R-Moore; Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City; and Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, voted against it. Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, was absent.

According to C-SPAN’s web site, the two are very familiar faces on the floor of the Senate this year. In fact, Coburn has made the fifth most appearances of all senators in terms of days (37)_ just behind the four main Democratic and Republican leaders.

Coburn has spent a total of 12 hours talking on the floor of the Senate, already more than he spent in 2008.

Inhofe also made the top ten with his 35 days (9 hours and 38 minutes) on the floor.

All of their speeches are available on the site.

“Taxpayers know that Congress wastes money,” Coburn, R-Muskogee, said. “Yet, many Americans may be surprised to learn that billions of taxpayer dollars have literally washed out to sea through questionable ‘beach nourishment projects’ while critical infrastructure needs have gone unmet. In the wake of major natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, and in the midst of our current financial difficulties, it’s time for Congress to use a little more common sense in its management of taxpayer dollars.”

Warning: This clip is full of Defense Department acronymns and jargon.

_ Banham Construction, LLC, Oklahoma City, Okla. was awarded a $20,660,814 firm fixed price contract to design, site preparation and construction of a single story multi-bay cargo aircraft hangar building (860SF) with concrete foundation and floor stab, structural steel frame and masonry walls with insulated metal roof. Project includes concrete aprons. Offices for personnel, HVAC, utilities, fire protection, lightning system utilities. Install overhead bridge crane system. Work is to be performed in Robins Air Force base with an estimated completion date of Apr. 25, 2011. One hundred (100) bids were proposed and 3 proposals received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga. is the contracting activity (W912HN-09-C-0012).

_ The Boeing Co., Wichita, Kan., is being awarded a $5,989,487 cost plus fixed price delivery order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-05-G-0026) for the supplies and services necessary to plan, manage, and execute engineering support for the U.S. Navy’s E-6B aircraft Service Life Sustainment effort. Work will be performed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla., and is expected to be completed in Sept. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

_ McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $44,598,541 modification to a previously awarded firm fixed price contract (N00019-04-C-0014). This modification provides for the procurement of ancillary mission equipment for the F/A-18 E/F and E/A-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in Clearwater, Fla., (98 percent); and Tulsa, Okla., (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in March 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $13,331,390 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.