Right Now
Jan 12 2007
Real reform for the Senate ethics bill
While the Senate technically adopted by voice vote Dr. Coburn's amendment (no. 51) to S.1, the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007, the majority party refused to allow debate on the amendment prior to passage of the bill, refused to allow a recorded vote on the amendment, and refused to keep the provision in any final conference report on the bill. Coburn voted no on S.1.
“The problem in Washington is not lobbyists; the problem is us. Unfortunately, many of the provisions in this bill are focused on the wrong problem,” Dr. Coburn said. “The process by which this bill was considered also should concern the American people. By refusing to allow debate on key amendments, such as my amendment to prohibit earmarks to family members, Congress showed that its commitment to transparency is less than it appears to be." Read more from the press release or read Dr. Coburn's floor speech.
Among the amendments Dr. Coburn has filed to the Senate ethics reform bill, is an amendment to prohibit senators from requesting earmarks that financially benefit the senator, an immediate family member of the senator or the senator’s staff.
Read letters of support for the Coburn amendment from Americans for Prosperity and Citizens Against Government Waste.
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 1/30/07 | Do we need to increase the federal mininum wage?  |
| 1/12/07 | Current record |
| 1/4/07 | The Coburn Principles |
