Tom Coburn: We're not bailing out the arts (or pastel lights!)

From TPM: What Does Tom Coburn Have Against Rotating Pastel Lights?

Buried within his amendment (note bolded emphasis):

None of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this act may be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway beautification project, including renovation, remodeling, construction, salaries, furniture, zero-gravity chairs, big-screen televisions, beautification, rotating pastel lights, and dry heat saunas.

So while we're tossing out the economic bathwater, we'll throw out the artisitic, historic, and community babies, according to Coburn.

Look, I think we should fund, with stimulus money, those bolded objects/facilities. Why? Instead of throwing money at banks to fund loans and pay executive salaries of $500,000, why don't we give money to smaller institutions that can help revitalize smaller communities? I really don't get the dyslogic that opponents of this idea spew forth - that it's communism, Comrade Obama!

Oi.

-rl