Senate Says No to Chinese Garden

As a joint project between the USDA and the Chinese Academy of Forestry, the Chinese government would provide all of the structures and art, along with the price to ship them, while the U.S. would provide the land and funds for construction and maintenance. Former Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said, "The new garden will deepen the American people's understanding of garden culture and provide research opportunities to study Chinese plants and flowers."
However, the administration had been planning the garden before any congressional approval to authorize funding for it was received. In 2007, the administration requested $8.4 million to uphold their share of the agreement, but did not ask for money for the garden in its '08 budget. Upon former Secretary Johanns' request, language was entered in the House version of the Farm Bill that authorizes construction of the garden and places no restrictions on costs. The Senate version of the bill would authorize the garden but forbid the use of federal funds for construction, thanks to an amendment led by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) which Chairman Harkin included in his manager's package (it wasn't voted on on the floor of the Senate).
So Coburn decides to make a point for fiscal responsibility in this case, yet he voted against the Dorgan-Grassley amendment, which would have made much needed reforms to cut the $42 billion subsidy package in the Farm Bill. Point not taken.