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Coburn strongly urges sacrifice
By Randy Cowling
Owasso Reporter
September 30, 2005
“Charity without sacrifice is not charity,” Oklahoma’s junior U.S. Senator Tom Coburn told Owasso business leaders Monday during the Owasso Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Affairs Series. “It’s spending your grandchildren’s money.”
He called for acts of sacrifice by Americans during the nation’s rebuilding and recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Coburn expressed serious concerns on how any rebuilding of the Gulf Coast would be funded.
“There’s no question there’s plenty of enough waste in the federal government to pay for the cost of Katrina. The question is, is there enough courage in the members of Congress to go and find it and make the tough votes that will make a difference.
“The worst thing I can think is that we sent $62 million to two agencies that proved they were inadequate to doing what they were supposed to do — one is FEMA and the other is the Office of Emergency Preparedness of Louisiana,” Coburn said.
He is joining Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to introduce federal legislation that will requires a chief financial officer be appointed to manage any funds the federal government sends for the rebuilding effort on the Gulf Coast.
He said much of the funds were being wasted and not getting to the people who need it.
He is a member of Senate Judiciary Committee, which is currently in the midst of confirmation hearings for Judge John Roberts as potentially the next chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
“These are momentous times in that regard. So much of what divides us as a nation has not been decided by your elected representatives; it’s been decided by nine judges,” Coburn said.
He said most of the controversial issues have been decided by a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
“Madison thought the court would end up being the weakest branch of government. Instead it has become the most powerful branch of government. I have the very strong feeling that Chief Justice-to-be John Roberts recognizes the importance of reining in a Supreme Court,” he said.
Coburn, who spent two separate one-hour private sessions with Roberts, believes he is the smartest man that could be considered.
The senator, who is a licensed medical doctor and continues to practice, said the U.S. Senate has asked him to stop charging for his medical services as of Sept. 30. He plans to continue practicing medicine until the end of the year but will not charge patients.
Prior to Coburn being introduced to the meeting Oklahoma State Representative John Smaligo announced his engagement to Lesa Borin.
The couple has not set a wedding date. Borin is a legislative liaison for Elder Care and resides in Edmond.
While congratulating Smaligo and Borin, Coburn commented, “Congratulations, it’s not nice to up the senator.”
Senator Tom Coburn's activity on the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2254 Fax: 202-228-3796
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