In a demonstration of misplaced priorities and political histrionics, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, suggested he would quit the U.S. Senate or be taken out "on a stretcher" if there was any attempt to redirect the $223 million he has earmarked for building bridge to an Alaskan island with just 50 residents and use the money for reconstruction of Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.

Despite a deepening federal budget deficit and hurricane-related reconstruction estimated at $250 billion, the attitude of Stevens and many other senators appears to be "I got mine and to hell with the rest of the country."

The suggestion to redirect money from senators' pet, so-called pork-barrel projects to Gulf Coast reconstruction came from conservative Tom Coburn, a freshman senator from Oklahoma. Prior to his rebuke by Stevens, Coburn upset other senators by suggesting smaller, non-essential projects such as a $500,000 sculpture garden in Washington state, be deferred to help fund post-hurricane reconstruction projects.

The high drama from Stevens and the Senate's 86-13 defeat of Coburn's efforts suggests there is little interest in fiscal responsibility or shared sacrifice in the U.S. Senate.

America, if not Alaskans, would be better off if Stevens were to follow through on his threat to quit the Senate, if that's the only way to change the attitude about spending restraint and deference to national priorities that permeates Washington, D.C., these days.