My latest article for the print edition of NR went to press before the Tom Coburn introduced his pork-cutting amendments this week, but it is about the two “bridges to nowhere” and why Alaska rakes in so much pork compared to other states. It includes an unpersuasive defense of the two bridges from Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens’ office and my rebuttal.

Of course, I wish I could have written it after Stevens threw his temper-tantrum yesterday in route to helping defeat Coburn’s measures. The Washington Post summed it up thusly:

Republicans in Congress say they are serious about cutting spending, but they learned yesterday to keep their hands off the “Bridge to Nowhere.”
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a staunch opponent of pork barrel spending, tried to block $453 million for two Alaska bridges that had been tucked into the recent highway bill. Coburn wanted to redirect the money to the Interstate 10 bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, a major thoroughfare that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina.
Sen. Ted Stevens, the veteran Alaska Republican, was dramatic in his response. “I don’t kid people,” Stevens roared. “If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state . . . I will resign from this body.”

I’d say the Senate missed two opportunities yesterday.