We have two or three conversations about the budget process and pork going on, so thought I'd start a new one on this news.
I continue to be impressed with what my first-term, outsider Senator is able to accomplish. I'm afeared Tom DeLay will drag his feet on this in the House, though. Would greatly diminish his influence with the lobbyists and prevent pork from being quietly doled out to the Dem opposition in exchange for votes on GOP-backed bills.
Senate Accepts Coburn Amendment that Casts Sunshine on Budget Process
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) " The U.S. Senate tonight accepted by a vote of 55 to 39 an amendment by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) that will lift the veil of secrecy that conceals the process of inserting special projects " or pork " into appropriations bills. The Coburn amendment was successfully attached to the Agriculture Appropriations bill.
"At a time when our nation is at war, recovering from a terrible natural disaster, and facing rising budget deficits, business as usual in Congress simply cannot continue. I"m proud that my colleagues agreed and took an important step toward reforming the way this body does business. Taxpayers and members of Congress deserve to know what programs are being funded in appropriations bills. The American people appreciate and expect honest leadership and stewardship of their tax dollars, which this amendment supports," Dr. Coburn said.
The Coburn amendment requires that any limitation, directive, or earmarking be included in the bill"s conference report. Previous Senate procedures allowed the Senate to automatically approve earmarks or special projects included in the House version of an appropriations bill. Consequently, many earmarks that became law did not even come up for a vote in the Senate. This process was used to essentially hide millions of dollars of pork spending from public view.
"It is imperative that the House of Representatives also accept this amendment in order for it to become law. The American people should urge the House to follow the Senate"s example and take this important step toward honest and responsible budgeting," Dr. Coburn said.
Finally, a law(amendment) that makes since and doesn't just benefit one area of the country. This bill is great for every American. It only sucks for Congressmen trying to cash in on their position.
I like Coburn and think we need a lot more like him in Washington. He has a life outside politics. He's an OB/GYN and has delivered 4,000 babies. Is at odds with the Senate ethics committee because they ruled he couldn't see patients on weekends and vacation. He offered to do it for free and they still said no. He's still fighting with them over that.
He is a real maverick and has said he's not going up there to act like a freshman senator; he intends to push for rapid change because he doesn't plan on spending the rest of his life in Washington. He's not a political novice, did a couple of terms in the U.S. House a few years back.
He obviously knows how to get things done as few freshmen get any bills on the floor. He also saw committee passage of his Oversight of Vital Emergency Recovery Spending Enhancement and Enforcement (OVERSEE) Act of 2005. He and Barack Obama sponsored the bill and it is co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Harry Reid. To get that kind of bi-partisan support on a bill says you are writing good legislation that stands above partisan politics.
This bill, which establishes a chief financial officer to provide oversight of federal funds spent on relief and recovery costs from Hurricane Katrina, unanimously passed by voice vote out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
"With billions of dollars being spent on relief and recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina, it"s absolutely imperative for Congress to ensure taxpayers" money is spent wisely," Dr. Coburn said. "This bill provides transparency and accountability in how money is spent and provides needed oversight up front. We must know how this money is spent before the fact, not after the fact. I urge prompt consideration of this bill on the Senate floor and urge my colleagues to support it."
A breath of fresh air
