State Lawmaker Reveals Wasteful Federal Spending In Oklahoma

Gan Matthews, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- U.S. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is a foe of wasteful federal spending, and he says there about $172 million of that he can identify in Oklahoma.

One example Coburn cites is the Heartland Flyer, the Amtrak passenger train that runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. Though ridership is up, Coburn says the Flyer has never shown a profit.

The Chamber of Commerce in Norman, where the train stops twice a day, says the Flyer has other benefits. "I think that anytime you're able to have a stop on the [Heartland] Flyer it gives the community an opportunity for more visitors to your area," said John Woods with the Norman Chamber of Commerce.

State Representative Richard Morrissette says the Flyer is not federally funded and returns $3.60 for every dollar invested.

Read Sen. Coburn's full report on wasteful federal spending in Oklahoma.