Government blowing money on zombie musicals, rabbit massages, watching grass grow

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on Tuesday offered a glimpse of his annual report on government waste, which this year will reveal how the government is subsidizing everything from studies on monkeys playing video games, to laughing classes for college students.

Coburn's office released a video teaser of his latest Wastebook report that outlines several key elements of this year's findings:

According to the video, the government spent $10,000 on a "romantic musical about zombies," and $331,000 on "voodoo dolls for angry spouses."

The government is wasting a lot of money on animal-themed studies and activities. Coburn's video said a whopping $856,000 was spent somehow to study mountain lions on treadmills, and said $387,000 was spent on "massages for rabbits."

Another $171,000 was spent on "monkeys playing video games," while "watching grass grow" only won $10,000 in government support.

Coburn is arguably the most vocal advocate in Congress for ways to cut government waste, although he has said he will retire after the current Congress expires early next year.

As of last Friday, the national debt hit a record-high $17.9 trillion.