I started reading this story, and my first thought was... "Good.  There is absolutely no reason to pay for this":

Robert Kosilek was convicted of strangling his wife in 1990. Now known as Michelle, Kosilek is serving a life sentence in Massachusetts.

For the last year, he has been fighting the state in federal court, trying to convince a judge to order the government to pay for a sex-change operation. His lawyers say by refusing to pick up the tab for the surgery, corrections officials are subjecting the 58-year-old inmate to cruel and unusual punishment.

Then I read this:

The wire service says its review of court records shows that the Correction Department has spent more than $52,000 to procure expert testimony from doctors who say Kosilek doesn't need the $20,000 operation.

Thank God for the Government... spending your hard earned tax dollars in an effort to save your hard earned tax dollars.