Home Press Room Press Releases

Press Room

Apr 06 2011

Senate Cuts Spending by More Than $5 Billion

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement after the Senate accepted two amendments to cut spending by more than $5 billion.

“Today’s votes show that if the Senate would simply spend the time debating spending cuts we could make great strides toward reducing our debt and possibly avoid budget standoffs,” Dr. Coburn said, noting that the Senate has taken 50 percent fewer votes in 2011 than at this time last year.

“Many Senators on both sides of the aisle understand the seriousness of our debt threat and are willing to go through the budget program by program to identify cuts. The best way to cut spending is to make hard choices and set priorities. The negotiations surrounding the CR are only one aspect of what has to be a larger effort to get our spending and debt under control,” Dr. Coburn said.

Today the Senate accepted, by a vote of 64 to 36, an amendment (#273) by Dr. Coburn and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) that would require the Office of Management and Budget to rescind at least $5 billion in duplicative spending identified in a recent GAO report on duplication.

The Senate also accepted, by a vote of 100 to 0, an amendment (#281) by Dr. Coburn and Senators Mark Udall (D-CO), John McCain (R-AZ) and Jon Tester (D-MT) that would prohibit unemployment insurance payments for Americans earning one million dollars or more in adjusted gross income. This amendment will save taxpayers $20 million every year.

Additionally, the Senate accepted two other Coburn amendments.

Amendment #217 would repeal a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program that funds rehabilitation efforts of historic bridges that are primarily used as tourist attractions. This program was created in 1998 and siphons away funds from real transportation priorities for historic preservation activities. Eliminating this program will save taxpayers $8.5 million annually.

Amendment #184 requires each agency to list and describe each program it administers on an annual basis.

Full background on Dr. Coburn’s amendments is here.

###

Bookmark and Share


Date Title
12/16/14 Dr. Coburn on Tax Extenders: Washington’s Christmas Tree For Special Interests
12/16/14 Dr. Coburn's Statement on Protecting Veterans and Taxpayers
12/16/14 Senators Baldwin and Coburn Applaud Commitment to Enhance Access to HIV Drugs in Developing Countries
12/16/14 Coburn Introduces Bill to Protect and Strengthen the Social Security Disability Insurance Program
12/9/14 Coburn Releases Report Decoding the Tax Code
Date Title
11/18/14 Reps. Issa, Gingrey, and Sen. Coburn: GAO Study Finds Government’s Data Quality for Official Time is Unreliable
11/10/14 Value of Terrorism Prevention Centers Remains Unproven
Date Title
10/30/14 Wastebook 2014 Videos
10/29/14 Coburn “Concerned” With White House Reaction to Cyber Breach
10/22/14 Wastebook 2014: What Washington doesn't want you to read.
10/1/14 New Report Details Millions Spent on Unnecessary Transport of Surplus Vehicles From Afghanistan
Date Title
9/26/14 GAO: Federal Government Underreports Data Center Cost Savings by Billions
9/23/14 Statement by Senator Tom Coburn on the Recent Washington Post Story about the Department of Homeland Security
9/22/14 GAO: Long-term Viability of DHS Consolidation in Question
9/22/14 Bipartisan Bill to Consolidate Federal IT Infrastructure, Save Up to $3 Billion Passes Senate
9/19/14 Senate Approves Carper, Coburn Legislation to Curb Improper Payments to Deceased Individuals
9/19/14 Bipartisan Legislation Would Require State Representation on Federal Banking Board
9/9/14 Reducing Insurance Subsidies for Wealthy Farmers Could Save Hundreds of Millions Annually
Date Title
8/29/14 New Health Benefit For Temporary Federal Employees May Violate Federal Law
8/28/14 Oklahoma Delegation Responds to Obama Administration’s Failure to Grant ESEA Extension
8/13/14 GAO Report Confirms Need for Additional Oversight of Medicare Claims Reviews
8/12/14 Over 600 Illegal Immigrants with Prior Criminal Convictions Released into the U.S.
8/10/14 Big Banks Claim Millions of Dollars in Tax Credits Intended For Poor Communities
8/8/14 Members Call on OMB Director to Address Concerns of Inspectors General
8/4/14 GAO: $619 Billion in Government Spending Never Disclosed on Transparency Website