Senator Coburn takes on Norquist

Politico ^ | 4/24/2011 | Glenn Thrush

[finerobert]

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), arguably the most prominent fiscal conservative in the Senate, is declaring his independence from one of the country's leading anti-tax groups, Americans for Tax Reform - and its fiery founder, Grover Norquist.

[stockpirate]

Coburn must be a socialist if he is part of the gang of six.

He needs to go!

[Georgia Girl 2]

The Gang of Six is just six morons trying to get media attention. One of them being RINO Saxby Chambliss from GA.

[Defend Liberty]

"Which pledge is most important... the pledge to uphold your oath to the Constitution of the United States or a pledge from a special interest group who claims to speak for all American conservatives when, in fact, they really don't?" Coburn asked.

If Coburn is adamant about upholding his pledge to the Constitution, then he should have no problem eliminating all Unconstitutional federal agencies and Unconstitutional federal program not in compliance with any of the enumerated powers in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution! Doing so will dramatically reduce the size and cost of government. Otherwise he is as phony as the rest of the OP(aka GOP) and the RATs.

[Cicero]

When I see that name, “Gang of Six,” I know that no good will come from it. We’ve seen similar “bipartisan” groups before, mostly with heavy involvement of Juan Mccain. The very fact that they chose that name is ominous.

[Soul of the South]

The fix is in. In exchange for more empty promises for spending cuts, the Republicans will cave on the debt ceiling and higher marginal tax rates. Plus they will agree to end the mortgage deduction for what is left of the middle class.

Meanwhile, the corporate statist elites will continue to fiddle while Rome is burning.

[Tzimisce]

They’re not serious about cutting spending.

But we knew that when they settled for 38 billion. :(:(:(

Old boss, meet the new boss. :(:(:(

[FourPeas]

Apparently you’re unfamiliar with Sen. Coburn, or his record. A socialist he is not.

[FourPeas]

Sen Coburn’s nickname is Dr. No because of his many stands saying No to frivolous spending. He has led the way in making budget cuts for YEARS.

[calico_thompson]

Cut first. Wait two years, then talk about taxes.

[FourPeas]

Given Sen. Coburn's history, it seems prudent to wait until the proposal is released to start slinging stones.

From here:

Dr. Coburn is proposing to cut spending by $20 billion as the Senate debates the small business bill. He has filed the following eight amendments to S. 493 and looks forward to their adoption. Targets include ethanol, funding for PBS and duplications identified by GAO.

1. Eliminate funding for the ethanol subsidy: $4 billion.  (Amendment #220)

2. Eliminate funds for leftover earmarks: $4.8 billion. (Amendment #218)

3. Eliminate program duplications identified by GAO: $5 billion. (Amendment #273)

4. Eliminate unemployment payments to millionaires: $20 million.  (Amendment #281)

5. Reduce new car purchases by the government: $900 million. (Amendment #221)

6. Eliminate funds for ‘covered bridges’ program: $8.5 million. (Amendment #217)

7. Eliminate taxpayer subsidies for CPB: $550 million.  (Amendment #222)

8. Identifies, discloses, and describes every federal program. (Amendment #184)

9. Prohibits federal funds from being used to pay off TARP obligations.(Amendment #279)

[Puddleglum]

Cut first. Wait two years, then talk about taxes.

If 45% of the wage earners pay no income taxes, is that fair to the rest who do?

[chickenlips]

Well that puts me in a huge dilemma. Anyone that disses Glover bin Norquist deserves my highest respect and I can’t hold a RINO in high respect. Life’s decisions used to be so much easier. sigh.....

[truthkeeper]

Maybe so, but he was also the one championing the “sit across the aisle” nonsense at the last SOTU address. Looks to me like he’s gone PC.
And frankly, whenever Republicans want to hold hands with the Rats on ANYTHING, I just want to grab my wallet and run.

[stockpirate]

If Sen, Whoreburn is working with the gang of six, three of which are socialists then he is ONLY trying to advance their agenda.

I’ll bet he is a member of the CFR, yes, no.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I think Norquist is a steaming pile...

What a two faced corporate welfare shill... He gets a nice, cushy 501(c)3 exemption on his taxes...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

bipartisan = twice as bad

[WOSG]

Senator Coburn is a great guy who has been very principled and solid on spending.

Alas, Washington is starting to wear on even him. “Getting along” starts to look like “selling out”

There are good reasons to reduce the tax loopholes and complex deductions, to reform to a simpler tax code, and allow a loer tax rate on a broader base. There is NOT ANY REASON to push for tax increases via ending deductions to close the deficit. Those deficits were created by over-spending and spending cuts is the only way to get back to balance. Tinkering with taxes is just a Dem excuse to avoid the necessary spending cuts.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks finerobert.

"Which pledge is most important... the pledge to uphold your oath to the Constitution of the United States or a pledge from a special interest group who claims to speak for all American conservatives when, in fact, they really don't?" Coburn asked. "The fact is we have enormous urgent problems in front of us that have to be addressed and have to be addressed in a way that will get 60 votes in the Senate... and something that the president will sign."

[WOSG]

“The fix is in. In exchange for more empty promises for spending cuts”

Well phrased. There are either ‘spending cuts’ that happen now or “empty promises’ that happen later ... then they break the promises they made last year.

The only spending cuts are NOW spending cuts.