What do dinosaur-themed bus lines, treadmill-walking monkeys, and shrimp fight clubs have in common?
American taxpayers paid for each of them last year to a tune of $36 million, $1 million, and $700,000, respectively. Arizona Senator Jeff Flake explained the details on a Fox News segment called "The Egregious Eight," which you can check out in the link above.
The justification for this wasteful spending just made matters worse. The researchers at Duke University who conducted the shrimp fight club with funds from National Science Foundation assured the American people that the results of their study could have “military applications.” Next time the shrimp launch a land invasion, they’ll be ready.
There have been a number of federal officials like Senator Flake who have drawn attention to the waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government (Senator Tom Coburn being the best example). But their efforts have proved largely ineffective--the fact is that most Senators and Congressmen can’t resist the unlimited spending our federal laws allow.
That’s why an Article V Convention of States is so necessary. A Convention of States can propose a complete package of constitutional amendments that force Congress to be fiscally responsible. If they’re required to balanced the budget every year without raising taxes, there’s a good chance they’ll take a hard look at how National Science Foundation money is being spent. Shrimp fight clubs aren’t the only area of wasteful spending, but they’re a good place to start.
