The New Sheriff in Town (Senator Coburn)

Citizens Against Government Waste ^ | Thursday, July 21, 2005 | Josh Johnson

[ConservativeMan55]

The New Sheriff in Town
Thursday, July 21, 2005

By: Josh Johnson

Wastewatcher, July 2005

     Picture Washington D.C. as the setting for an old western film.  A familiar hero that has been out of town for a time rides back in on his horse with the intention of running out all the, no-good varmints; that have taken over.  This man is well known by all the no-goods in the town, so they set out to take him down before he can interfere.  As our hero walks into the local saloon, we flash forward to the present day and find a junior senator entering the Senate chamber:  Dr. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).

 

      After serving in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001, Dr. Coburn returned to Oklahoma to practice medicine.  He was elected to the Senate in November 2004 to eliminate, as he calls it, the ;the inside-the-Beltway entitlement society.  Many of his colleagues knew of Dr. Coburn's reputation for sticking to his principles and rocking the boat.  For example, in 1999, he tried to add 130 amendments to an agriculture appropriations bill because of its excessive cost. 

 

      Traditionally, junior senators are expected to keep their mouths shut and follow orders from party leadership.  But Sen. Coburn refused to adhere to that custom and immediately began to criticize the Senate for its waste and spending.  As happened with our hero at the beginning of this story, senators accustomed to taxpayer-financed spending binges did not take to Sen. Coburn's approach.  Soon after his arrival, the Senate Ethics Committee attempted to cite him with ethics violations for being a member of the Senate and continuing to return home to deliver babies.  Sen. Coburn pointed out that he spends 60 to 70 hours a week on his Senate duties.  He also noted that other senators spend as much time at home as he does, except with the sole aim of campaign fundraising.

 

      Using his role as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security as his six-shooter, Senator Coburn has set out to round up and terminate any and all unnecessary federal spending.  On June 23, Dr. Coburn introduced the ;Stop the Raid on Social Security; bill (S. 1302) that would dedicate the Social Security surplus to voluntary, personal retirement accounts.  His bill would keep Congress from wasting Social Security taxes on pork projects and general expenses.  His subcommittee has held hearings on improper payments by federal agencies, as well as on the Bush Administration's proposed Sunset and Results Commissions to review and eliminate wasteful programs.

Dr. Tom Coburn has entered the Senate with his guns blazing.  He also has promised to be a citizen legislator and serve no more than two terms.  With Dr. Coburn acting as the new fiscal sheriff in Washington, taxpayers have in important ally in the fight against big government and wasteful spending.

[ConservativeMan55]

Coburn slams improper grants. (Explains himself)

Senator Coburn holds hearing exposing vaste waste.

Homeland Security Spending OK'd for 2006 (Coburn Lone Opponent)

Senator Coburn on Fox and Friends.

Senator Coburn criticizes Supreme Court.

Senator Coburn introduces Parents right to know act.

Senator Coburn freely placing holds.

Senate plots to get rid of Doc.

Senator Coburn comments on John Roberts.

[ConservativeMan55]

Medicine Man Ping!!!


Please let me know if you'd like on or off this list!

[ConservativeMan55]

BTTT!!!

[TBarnett34]

I like watching this fella work.

[ConservativeMan55]

"For example, in 1999, he tried to add 130 amendments to an agriculture appropriations bill because of its excessive cost."

LOL! Finally somebody with a spine!!

[ConservativeMan55]

"Sen. Coburn pointed out that he spends 60 to 70 hours a week on his Senate duties. He also noted that other senators spend as much time at home as he does, except with the sole aim of campaign fundraising."

Sad when politicians are more worried about their next election than they are the people that elected them.

[Gipper08]

We need to elevate and highlight those who are really fighting the good fight.Heros like Coburn,Mike Pence,and Steve KIng deserve our full support.

[ConservativeMan55]

I'll bump to that!

The good Senator Coburn is mainstream!!!

[RockinRight]

I'd like to see Coburn as Senate Majority Leader...or, for that matter...POTUS...

[ConservativeMan55]

If he could get more mainstream media attention he could run for President.

[JustaCowgirl]

Go, Dr. Coburn.

[ConservativeMan55]

bump!!

[Rodney King]

bump

[workerbee]

the Senate Ethics Committee attempted to cite him with ethics violations for being a member of the Senate and continuing to return home to deliver babies.

Is this true? And if so, what was cited as the rule or ethic he supposedly violated?

[ConservativeMan55]

Imagine how different America would look if we had at least one Senator Coburn in every state.

[ConservativeMan55]

I think the info you are looking for is in here.

Senate plots to get rid of Doc.

[ConservativeMan55]

"On Dec. 2, a Senate staffer handed Sen.-elect Coburn's chief-of-staff a letter signed by Sen. George Voinovich, the Senate Ethics Committee's GOP chairman, and Sen. Harry Reid, then the panel's ranking Democrat. The letter ordered Coburn to stop practicing medicine.

The staffer was no stranger to Coburn: Robert L. Walker, staff director of the Senate Ethics Committee. He held the same post for the House Ethics Committee the year after it made the same demand in 1998. House rules were not as firm, and the ethics panel backed down in 1998 when Coburn made clear he would quit Congress before he quit medicine. But Senate rules prohibit ''substantial'' outside income."

[ConservativeMan55]

He wouldn't have said it if it weren't true...unforunately...

[workerbee]

Thank you -- sorry, I typed my question faster than I scanned your links.

Good info.