Sen. Tom Coburn, the Oklahoma Republican who developed a close friendship with President Obama when they served together in the Senate, is threatening to have the entire health care bill read on the Senate floor.
Coburn is serious.
“My mission is to frame this health care debate in terms of the fiscal ruin of this country. … I have instructed my staff to clear my schedule for every minute that bill is on the floor.”
Mr. Coburn has complained to other senators about the “timidity” of the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and his deputies. As a member of the House, Mr. Coburn similarly gained a reputation as an acute pain in the tailbone to the Republican leadership.
And if Senator Coburn chooses to continue inflicting pain, he could do a world of good in the effort to stop the mad dash to ram ObamaCare through the Senate:
If Coburn and other Republicans force floor readings of the bill, that may drift into March or April. If Coburn insists on a floor reading every time the bill gets amended, it may be summertime before they can get around to it.
In effect, it would allow Coburn to have the bill filibuster itself.
Let's encourge Dr. Coburn to follow through with his plan. Here is his contact information:
