Coburn Urges Senate Leaders to Hold Full and Open Debate on $11 Billion Omnibus Spending Bill
Calls on Senate leaders to end obstruction of civil rights investigations, medical research, energy exploration
July 24, 2008
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement today in advance of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plan to consider a massive $11 billion omnibus spending bill this weekend.
“Once the Senate completes work on a meaningful energy package that will help lower the price of gas and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, I would welcome a full and open debate on Majority Leader Reid’s election-year omnibus spending bill,” Dr. Coburn said. “However, I’m troubled that on the eve of the Majority Leader’s planned weekend debate he has so far declined to accept my offers to expedite consideration of his package of unrelated bills.”Dr. Coburn offered the following compromises to Majority Leader Reid in a July 17 letter.
I would strongly recommend that the underlying bill or the managers’ package would include offsets that would pay for the cost of any new spending authorized by the bill by reducing lower priority federal spending elsewhere as well as an explicit assurance that there would be no limitations on energy or mineral exploration resulting from the bill. This would be my preference and would require no amendments or lengthy floor debates. It would also set an important precedent that any new spending approved by Congress will be paid for rather than continuing Congress’ “borrow and spend” policies that have resulted in a $9.5 trillion national debt.
If there is no willingness to pay for the cost of the omnibus, then I would request a fair amount of time to debate the contents and have the opportunity to offer a fixed number of amendments to address cost and any other related negative impact of the bill.
Some potential agreements include:
· One related amendment and one hour of debate for each $1 billion authorized in new spending by the omnibus;
· One related amendment for each new government office, government program federal commission, park, heritage area, wilderness area, or museum created by the omnibus with at least 30 minutes to debate each amendment; or
· One related amendment for each of the individual bills wrapped into the omnibus with 30 minutes of debate for each amendment.
“Senator Reid has refused to agree to any of these common sense proposals, and he has failed to provide a CBO score of this bill, as he pledged to do in a letter,” Dr. Coburn said.
“The Senate has a nine percent approval rating because its current leaders prefer demagoguery over debate and politics over progress. Many of the bills in this omnibus package are case studies in the triumph of mindless partisanship and spin over common sense solutions,” Dr. Coburn said.
“For instance, Senator Reid and others continue to claim I am blocking civil rights legislation like Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act (S. 535) when they have voted against additional funds for this effort in order to protect their pork. These Senators also continue to block a common sense compromise I offered that would allow this bill to pass today,” Dr. Coburn said.
“Senate Democrats first blocked passage of this bill in 2006 after its
sponsor, Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), agreed to offset the costs of the
bill. Democrats objected to this agreement because they wanted to deny
Senator Talent a legislative victory in the midst of his re-election
campaign,” Dr. Coburn said.
“In October 2007, Senators Reid, Durbin, Dodd and Leahy all voted against an amendment I offered to increase funds for the Department of Justice’s effort to investigate these crimes by redirecting funds from less vital special interest pork projects. Unfortunately, each of these Senators put their own pork projects ahead of victims of civil rights cases. Senator Dodd voted to protect $450,000 for a submarine at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Senator Leahy voted to protect $300,000 for the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in Vermont for the ‘Eye-In-The-Sky’ Program. Senator Durbin voted to protect $300,000 for the Adler Planetarium in Chicago,” Dr. Coburn said. See related Amendment summary and Vote breakdown:
“Majority Leader Reid has now taken the step of effectively drawing a moral equivalence between legislation related to botanical gardens and victims of unsolved civil rights cases. The Majority Leader could pass the Emmett Till bill today if he brought it up as a stand alone bill with spending offsets I have already identified. Instead, the Majority Leader has linked the issue of unsolved civil rights cases to other causes that are unrelated and, in some cases, frivolous,” Dr. Coburn said.
“I have detailed reasons for asking for debate on each of the bills in Reid’s omnibus bill. In many cases, I support the bills in the package but believe the Senate should live within its means, like every American family, and pay for new programs by reducing spending elsewhere. Any Senator who can’t find offsets in a government that wastes $300 billion every year through fraud or duplication doesn’t deserve to be here,” Dr. Coburn said.
“Regarding the omnibus’ medical research component, I look forward to explaining why various bills in this package that could block entities like the National Institutes of Health from conducting life-saving medical research. The disease specific earmarks in the Reid’s omnibus would essentially put career politicians, congressional staffers and Washington lobbyists in charge of medical research in this country. Medical research dollars should be directed by trained scientists and physicians, not politicians, lobbyists and celebrity activists,” Dr. Coburn said.
“I hope the Majority Leader will give the American people what they deserve: legislation that allows us to live within our means, or at least a full and open debate that will allow him to explain why we should not,” Dr. Coburn said.
“Finally, what the Majority Leader defines as my unprecedented obstruction is my desire to see the number of bills that pass the Senate in secret with no debate, no amendment and no recorded vote be reduced by less than ten percent. I have supported 855 unanimous consent or ‘hotline’ requests in the 110th Congress while I am presently urging further debate on less than 80 bills. What is unprecedented, therefore, is not anyone’s obstruction but the Majority Leader’s secret spending and refusal to debate critical legislation,” Dr. Coburn said.
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I want to give wordpress a chance, I really do but they are some things that Blogger has wordpress does not. It may seem trivial but to me it means the world and the same that goes with Blogger. With Blogger you can change the color of your written content but you can't (or I don't see it) on Wordpress. You can use the strikethrough line in Wordpress but not in Blogger. Wordpress is for a person who is a "power user" when it comes to blogging...I am not that person and that is why I have stuck with Blogger for a while.
I was about about to switch to wordpress but then I found out how to change my template and I stayed put...yet again. This time I may move again because of one "small" thing...I can't add emotions to my post on Blogger. I found (oh so I thought) different scripts so I can begin putting emotions in my post on Blogger. I tried it and maybe I didn't install it correctly. Maybe I will try it this weekend when I have more time. To be honest I'm happy with Blogger. I know you "power users" think Blogger is for wussies...well call me "mr. wuss". I see the pros like Todd Kelley, Fave, Anewlis, Nikki and others fix up their blogs and they are on point. Me, I just wanna post. If I learn a trick or two...sweet. ^_^ But for the most point, I just want it to work.
I'm pretty sure I can learn how to use the "strikethrough" line for Blogger down the road but why Blogger does not have the "smileys" code imbedded in there is kind of funky. I sometimes copy/paste the Yahoo emotions in my post and it's not really a big deal but what if someone wants to leave a comment and use a emotion in their response.
Last night after the 2nd gig I got home around 9:30pm or so and that was pretty good. I waited until the Mrs. got home before I got comfy. Once she got home there was no excuse for me not to go to bed but I stayed up until close to midnight...that's not good for so many reasons.
I need to get into the habit of once I get home from work, I need to hop in the shower then head to bed because next month school will start and I need to really get my head in the game in reference to school and I need no distractions. I have already noted to myself that my internet usage will come to a crawl doing the week. I can go right to sleep with the radio on (I mostly listen to BOTT Radio Network...I like to go to bed with something positive, I can't understand how people can watch the news [except the Weather Channel...love that channel especially with cool jazz music they play from time to time] with all that negativity going in their brain. As long as it's talk radio I'm cool, but if the television is on, that's no good to me.
Even though I have seen a program a ga-zillion times but I still try to watch it. I know I shouldn't but I do it ALL the time. I know I have to tighten this up because I can not have this bad habit because last cluster it was the act of God that I receive a good grade and this year I am NOT going to bring those bad habits because I will have no room to spare. My geek sis Jen gave me a great idea that I should record as many podcasts and released them gradually through the months I am busy [that is why she is my sister from another mother ^-~].
Last night at the second job a couple of things happened to me, one situation that I need improvement on and one situation I found humorous. When cleaning restrooms and since I have been cleaning off and on for over 15 years I have come to realize some people in corporate America is just nasty. What really gets under my goat is that when I'm cleaning the women's restroom...and I have the door propped open (which means "I am cleaning in hear") women still try and come in (and it's not that there are not other restrooms in the building...I'm the the 2nd floor...they can go one floor down and use the restroom) that get's under my skin. What makes it worse is when they try and pretend that they are sorry or use excuses not just take the elevator just ONE floor down and go to that restroom. Two women came in the restroom yesterday and told me I didn't have to leave because they were just going to "freshing up"...I still left. 1. These are women and I am a man, 2. these are women and I am a Black man (I don't have time to be catching a case for nonsense). I am asking God to help me with my attitude when it comes to this because hey, that's going to happen from time to time.
The other funny incident that happen last night was is that cupcakes were left from a meeting so I took one and placed it into the frige where I clean the office. Later in the day I went back in to begin cleaning and one of the employees for the company came in to do some late night work. As I a saw him walk away I noticed something in his hand that looked like a "cup cake". I went to the refrigerator to look and low and behold it was the cup cake I put in the frige...HE TOOK IT! ^_^ ^_^ All I could do was laugh. I guess that was God's way of telling I really didn't need the cup cake after all and to be hones from the looks of him, he really did not need the cup cake (but he has the corner office so I guess he's the head guy). Whatchagonnado?
Overall last night as always was a great night for me because I did not listen to my iPod until close to leaving...that was my alone time with talking and listening to my Heavenly Father. Some nights it's good to hear your own thoughts. Tonight I will try and do better when I get home...get home/hop in the shower/check my music blog/check plurk and twitter/head to bed.
Keep my lifted up in prayer. ^_~
From Tony Mazeika's newsletter:
Last week (not sure of date) there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington , DC , filled to capacity by many of America 's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the entire state of California . He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.
Eight Methods for the Destruction of the United States by former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm
"If you
believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's
destroy America It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived
the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise
and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations
commit suicide.'"
50% dropout rate from high school.
VICENZA, Italy -- July has been a month of homecomings for Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team as they return here from a 15-month deployment in Afghanistan.
Spc. Jesse A. Murphree of Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), reversed that Afghanistan to Italy airflow July 22 when he traveled from the United States to rejoin his unit as they arrived at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
The "Rock Battalion" infantryman was among the first to greet the approximately 400 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd ABCT and the 503rd's 1st and 2nd Battalions, on the air base flight line.
He shook their hands while standing on two artificial legs, steadying himself with a cane.
Murphree, 22, served as a gunner on an up-armored Humvee. His platoon was overwatching another platoon during a mounted patrol in the Korengal Valley, near Ali Abad, Afghanistan, two days after Christmas 2007. As his convoy was preparing to move, his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Murphree said he has few memories of the explosion. He lost his legs below his knees and suffered minor burns in the incident. Two other Soldiers were also injured in the attack.
Medically evacuated from Afghanistan, he arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Dec. 30.
"I was hit on the 27th and woke up in Walter Reed on New Year's Day," he said as he awaited the first of two aircraft bringing his comrades home.
Murphree arrived in Italy July 20 and said he plans to stay until the first week of August to welcome the remaining 173rd Soldiers. Upon arrival at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, he was greeted by other Destined Company Soldiers, including his former platoon and section sergeants and two other Soldiers who were wounded in earlier incidents.
"I was looking forward to that feeling you get when you see everyone all happy because they just got done with a deployment. I came back for that feeling," he said. "I've always been thinking about what is going on and worrying. I definitely miss being around all of the guys."
He is staying in the Caserma Ederle Warrior Transition Unit quarters.
"It is pretty hooked up," Murphree said of his lodging at the WTU. "They are accessible; there are ramps and a shower that works for me."
Murphree says this is the longest trip he has taken since arriving at Walter Reed. He has made three other three-day trips in that time -- to his hometown in Colorado, a Texas fishing trip hosted by the 173d Airborne Brigade Association, and a Memorial Day celebration in Pennsylvania.
He said he continues his routine of frequent stretching exercises and walking on his prosthetic legs here, adding that his two-week stay in Italy does not interfere with his treatment. In fact he says it's a plus.
"This is actually better for me," Murphree explained. "That's pretty much what I am doing here. I am walking around a lot. Being on my legs is doing more than therapy would do."
"I'm well past the critical stage of therapy," he said. "You have to keep your core strength up. You have to build tolerance and confidence in your legs."
The reunion night's agenda included going into town with friends and around the Vicenza military community, he said. "We'll have some drinks and stuff, go hang out and have a good time."
Later plans include returning to Vicenza in September for the 173rd's formal welcome-home ceremony and celebration, he said.
Murphree, who is still on active duty, said he will continue his treatment at Walter Reed while undergoing the Medical Evaluation Board process. He expects to be medically retired from the Army in February 2009.
"You can never predict how long you are going to be there, because there are always bumps in the road," he said.
He said he is considering attending college and studying counterterrorism, English or public speaking, and possibly psychology. Plans also include taking up competitive mono-skiing, a sport that resembles snowboarding.
Murphree's return to Italy, where he spent his first and only Army assignment, is an inspiration and strength for all 173rd ABCT Soldiers and the Vicenza military community, said Capt. Matthew J. Heimerle, the 2-503rd rear detachment commander.
"To see him in person lifts everybody's spirit," he said. "Murphree will never quit on his ambitions and goals and will forever be a source of inspiration for the Soldiers of the Battalion."
Heimerle said there were no difficulties in arranging for Murphree's reunion. Community and battalion leaders cleared the visit with doctors at Walter Reed and ensured there was a place for him to stay in the community and that his medical needs were met.
"This has been an extremely tough deployment for all in this battalion," Heimerle said. "Every one of us has lost close, close friends, and to see someone like Murphree get hurt the way he did and recover the way he has, and will continue to do, gives everyone a huge morale boost."
"To me his attitude, motivation, and character epitomize the young Soldiers that are in today's Army and it also reflects our core Army values," he said. "Guys like Murphree are the ones that should be talked about in the news."
"It was good to see that he is alright," said Sgt. Nathan Thomas, the emergency medical technician who treated Murphree in the Korengal Valley.
It's also good for Murphree to see his friends, Thomas added. "He has been in Walter Reed for so long," the medic said.
The entire Destined Company -- especially his friends -- are boosting Murphree's morale, Thomas said.
"I'm not helping him. We are helping him," Thomas said. "This is our little band of brothers sticking together."
Scout team members Spc. Mitchell Raeon and Spc. Jay Liske, who witnessed the explosion, said they plan to get together with Murphree during his visit.
"He looked good," Raeon said. "We have not seen him in about 10 months, so we did not know what to expect."
"I can't wait to drink a beer with him tonight," added Liske.
"It's been incredible to see my buddies come back. It is one of the feelings I've been waiting for," Murphree said as 18 busloads of Soldiers pulled away from the flight line for the two-hour ride from Aviano to Vicenza. "You sit there at the hospital and you think constantly about your guys and what is going on. And when you finally get to see them and you know that they are OK, it is definitely awesome."
Posted By Driven
To all those who asked, yes my friend was one of the 2/503 guys. None of what I'm about to pass on is classified but its info civilian channels sometimes get wrong. The American FOB (forward operating base) was not over run, the attack was repelled. The enemy raiders out numbered our guys 2 to 1. Nine American soldiers died for their country, over 100 enemy died for theirs (their country, beliefs, cause they were bored, whatever).
You can look at this two ways, being sad and depressed, or realizing that out numbered 2 to 1, our guys still kicked some *** **** terrorist ass.
Let us not remeber how they died, let us remember how they lived. On my last deployment one of my very dear friends was killed from my platoon. It was the most vivid horrible day of my life, but when someone mentions my friend that's not what I remember. I remember the good times, the shared hardships, the laughs. We remember our fallen comrades by the lessons they taught us, the smiles we shared and the brotherhood we formed, not the sadness and grief of the end. When soldiers mourn, we crack open a bottle of the Fallen's favorite beer and sit around telling stories about him. I can think of no better way to be remembered.
So over a shot of cheapest tequilla, no salt, no chaser, I offer a toast. "For God? For Country? For the Hell of it!"
Dewhirst was deployed to Afghanistan this spring with the 101st Airborne Division of Fort Campbell, Ky.
He is the seventh service member from Wisconsin to die in Afghanistan; 89 have died in Iraq.
Dewhirst is survived by parents Randy and Susan Dewhirst of Onalaska. A family friend said Monday they had no comment.
An Eagle Scout, Dewhirst was a 2001 graduate of Onalaska High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society.
“He was an excellent leader,” said Jill Lyche Kulig, who was on the Onalaska student council with Dewhirst. “He cared about everyone.”
Tracy Miller, a childhood friend and neighbor, said Dewhirst liked being outdoors and was good-natured as a boy.
“He was always fun to be around,” she said. “He always had a smile on his face.”
After a year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., Dewhirst received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned in 2006. His military awards included the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
The Army will hold a memorial service in Afghanistan.
