The gist of the story that for at least ten years, the Transportation Department has paid fairly big bucks for groups of Federal and State employees to travel abroad and investigate how other Countries manage their larger highway systems. look at issues like safety, materials used to construct the roads, climate issues, etc. Basically trying to learn how we can make our roads better, safer and last longer. Sounds reasonable. We can always learn from others, but in the last week or so a particular trip all OVER the world with the purpose of studying how various Countries handle policies related to billboards.

Reportedly, the employees stayed in high end hotels in Australia and Europe, ate at expensive restaurants, and had a wonderful time. Estimated cost of this particular trip? In the 300K range.

The program began under George Bush and continued under the current administration until yesterday, when Obama official Ray Lahood, Secretary of the Transportation Dept. ordered it suspended till further notice. Which was, albeit a tad late, the right thing to do.

A few questions:

1) I thought President Obama had staff working round the clock in every Federal nook and cranny to root out waste. How did they miss this? This seems like a big fat one hanging right out over the middle of the plate. So obvious Ray Charles could've seen it. On this count, there's no excuses Mr. President. Your Administration, and therefore you...

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