Dan Coats 2016 announcement coming soon
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – U.S. Sen. Dan Coats has a higher profile on Capitol Hill this year.
It may have something to do with his re-election plans.
One of the things that Coats is doing to be noticed these days is something he calls “Waste of the Week.”
In each of the last three weeks, Coats has gone on the Senate floor to point out an example of federal spending that he thinks is unnecessary.
Wednesday he complained about a study at Ohio State University where a $387,000 grant was used in a study authorized by the National Institutes of Health.
“Does NIH need to fund a study to determine the benefits of massage,” he asked, “by using 18 white rabbits from New Zealand that receive 30 minute massages four times a day to prove out the fact that a massage helps get rid of some of those aches and pains that come from strenuous exercise?”
Coats started this routine two weeks ago and plans to follow through with a “Waste of the Week” example every week the Senate is in session this year.
It has led some observers to assume that Coats will run for re-election in 2016 but that is not clear.
He says he will announce his plans prior to April 5.
If the 71-year-old Coats decides not to run there will be a long line of Republicans seeking to replace him.