GOP rep decries Capitol duck ramp as ‘government waste’

A GOP member of the House is lamenting new “duck ramps” on Capitol grounds as an example of “government waste.”

“If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be government waste,” Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) tweeted on Tuesday.

If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be government waste. pic.twitter.com/JKgabZ47O5

— Rep. Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) May 15, 2017

The ramps are intended to help ducklings go in and out of the Capitol reflecting pool, and were built in collaboration with City Wildlife, a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife in Washington.

“The Capitol Reflecting Pool has been a popular attraction – for ducks and humans!” Architect of the Capitol spokeswoman Erin Courtney wrote in a blog post on Monday. But, “some ducklings have trouble climbing out of the pool or returning to it once out of the water,” prompting the construction of the ramps. 

The reflecting pool is currently home to four families of Mallard ducks.

Duckling update: Ramp in Use! pic.twitter.com/34E6oJOkCF

— U.S. Capitol (@uscapitol) May 16, 2017

Walker is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative House members that advocates for cuts in nondefense spending. His claim of government waste on Tuesday garnered backlash from many on social media.

I’m from North Carolina and I’m more proud of this duck ramp than I am of you representing my state. https://t.co/Azj44fq4gy

— Emily V Gordon (@emilyvgordon) May 16, 2017

I say we taxpayers should keep the duck ramp and stop paying the Congressman. pic.twitter.com/pYaUcwIFEG

— William (@WilliamMN2017) May 16, 2017

$30 – lumber
$40 – paint
$120 – design
$63,000,000 – Trump Golf Trips
$200 – labour
someone plz help me budget this duck ramp https://t.co/jpsGWQZV4G

— Dan Olson w/ an ‘O’ (@FoldableHuman) May 16, 2017

Reporting the hard hitting issue of rampant duck ramp spending in America https://t.co/8HufpuXPfb

— Star-Lord (@Gloriousroyalty) May 16, 2017

@darth Mar-A-Lago Trips: $3mil
Flotus Security NYC: $1mil/day
Duck Ramp: $30
Medicaid Cuts: $800 mil
Somone good at the econoomy please help me

— Jmart (@jmart2530) May 16, 2017

DUCK RAMP TO NOWHE–oh, it leads to the water https://t.co/dJryj8MpM2

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) May 16, 2017