PORKBUSTERS UPDATE: This sounds promising:
Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn this week will continue to raise havoc on the Senate floor. The Senate is still debating its emergency supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Katrina.
Coburn filed an amendment and then used parliamentary tools to split it into 19 seperate amendments attacking non-emergency pork spending projects in the bill. Last week he had some modest success, and looks to capitalize on that momentum this week.
Tomorrow, the Senate will vote for cloture — to limit debate — on the spending bill. Because Coburn crafted his amendment strategy with precise language all of his amendments will be germaine post cloture. In other words, limiting debate on the bill will in no way affect the good Doctor’s ability to raise heck on the Senate floor this week.
Expect Coburn to receive votes on many of his remaining amendments that would save the taxpayers billions.
There are rumors floating around the Hill that last week the GOP conference began to come to grips with the fact that they have been spending the people’s money carelessly. The way the Senate votes on many of Coburn’s amendments this week will prove those rumors true or false.
Keep your fingers crossed. And perhaps give your Senators a call: (202) 224-3121.