(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.

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