President Signs 2008 Omnibus; Coburn Wins Victory on Amendment to Stop Funding for Frivolous CDC Expenses

Taxpayers Will No Longer Foot Bill for Pricey Morale Consultations, Zero Gravity Chairs, Saunas or Light Shows

The omnibus appropriations bill signed into law by President Bush today contains a provision authored by Dr.  Tom Coburn that saves taxpayer dollars from being diverted to frivolous and duplicative spending in 2008. Page 345 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 reads as follows:

SEC. 222. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used—
(1) for the Ombudsman Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
(2) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  to provide additional rotating pastel lights, zero-gravity chairs, or dry-heat saunas for its fitness center.

Taxpayers Will No Longer Foot the Bill for Pricey Morale Consultations

• As a result of this legislation, the CDC must close its duplicative ombudsman program for 2008. Taxpayers save $107,800 to $140,200 for not paying the ombudsman’s salary in 2008 and cut off any extension of the temporary ombudsmen, who were last contracted at over $1,000 a day.  In a March 2007 letter, CDC Director Dr. Gerberding wrote, "approximately 50 persons, or less than 1 percent of CDC employees, have contacted [the ombudsmen’s] office since September 2006." Out of the more than 15,000 CDC employees and contract workers, this contact rate amounts to taxpayers funding the ombudsman’s office for approximately $2,551 per person visiting or $2,809 per complaint. 

Taxpayers Will No Longer Pay for Zero Gravity Chairs, Saunas or Light Shows

• The Coburn Amendment also prohibits the CDC from purchasing additional rotating pastel lights, zero-gravity chairs, and dry-heat saunas.

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