$174K For Senator's Widow, Other Goodies Included in Government Shutdown, Debt Ceiling Bill

Surprised?

There are some interesting nuggets inserted into the bill designed to re-open the government and avert a default, which the U.S. Congress passed Wednesday night.

As pork goes, these are low-level on the outrage scale, such as a death benefit for Sen. Frank Lautenberg's widow – a line item buried on page 20 of the 35-page bill:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of this joint resolution, there is appropriated for payment to Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, widow of Frank R. Lautenberg, late a Senator from New Jersey, $174,000."