Why Isn't Senator Coburn Going After This Wasteful Spending?

It is a great irony that the same party that had watch over creating the deep recession in which we find ourselves -- largely through excessive spending, particularly on the grand flight of neo-conservative fancy to export and re-plant democracy -- now seems set to reclaim their discredited reputation and once again try to dupe the American public by saying they are fiscal conservatives. What rubbish.

Still, the showdown in the Senate over the remaining Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations has certain members of the Republican party clamoring to cut spending. Senator McCain (R-AZ), for example, sought to have the entire appropriations bill set aside and allow programs to continue at Fiscal Year 2008 levels. That is the same backward thinking that lost him the election. And the ever reliable Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), always seeking to pass judgment on what he sees as "acceptable" public expenditures, is seeking support for a series of amendments to cut "wasteful" spending.

Noticeably absent from Coburn or McCain's list of suggested cuts is the failed abstinence-only-until-marriage funding that remains in the bill. True, this bill cuts the current funding by just over $14 million dollars -- the first cut to these programs in American history -- but a whopping $95 million remains. Expectations are high that President Obama's budget will provide the leadership that zeroes out these funds for Fiscal Year 2010, but we have to get through 2009 first.

If Coburn and the rest of the crew are serious about cutting wasteful spending, why not start with the abstinence-only-until-marriage earmarks in the bill sponsored by Senator Specter, a fellow Republican from Pennsylvania. Yes, the same party that is crying about wasteful spending is not only not going after the failed abstinence-only-until-marriage money that is regularly in the bill, but even the earmarks for these programs in the bill seem to be escaping their attention.

Senator Specter has more than a half-million dollars of abstinence-only-until-marriage earmarks in the bill for projects in his home state. It is no wonder that these dollars escape scrutiny. Abstinence-only-until-marriage money remains a vestige for funneling money to the extreme right wing and in this case, including those who strangely enough oppose Senator Specter's moderate record on reproductive health issues.

For example, two of the intended recipients of these earmarks are for extreme right-wing crisis pregnancy centers: Tender Care Pregnancy Center in Hanover, Pennsylvania and Women's Care Center of Erie County. A quick review of the latter's website (www.wccerie.org) reveals the same sensationalist and deceptive anti-choice rhetoric and scare tactics that have become a hallmark of the agenda of these abstinence-only-until-marriage providers.

But the big question beyond the failed folly of what these dollars fund is why Senator Coburn and his colleagues seem so fit to pass judgment on certain spending projects but not on their own pet programs. Why should we turn a blind eye to the inconsistency of their posturing when they throw an additional $528,000 into the bill, in pork-laden earmarks nonetheless, for failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs? We shouldn't.

It would be laughable if not so tragic because in this case -- it is about young people and their health and lives. But moreover, it is an indication that Senator Coburn and his ilk still did not get the memo on the change the American people are seeking and that these disingenuous attempts to regain the banner of fiscal conservativism should not be allowed to stick. Fiscal conservatism is a principled stand, but where it is put into service to wield ideologically motivated mischief, as it is in this case, the real bearers of the principle should come forward and send the charlatans to the back bench.

Comments

[tubette]

From my own experience knowing Coburn, I can tell you he is a self righteous zealot.

[newshawk14]

The GOP is trying to gain sympathy by reason of insanity, in trying the same failed policy,
over and over again, hoping they will get a different result. They're pathetic losers, unfortunately,
it's a bloody waste of taxpayers money.

[steveAC10]

Pittsburgh public schools announced recently that they were abandoning their abstinence only program because (surprise) it doesn't work. Since it was implemented, under strong pressure from local Catholic organizations, teen pregnancy actually rose. Of course to appease the "social conservatives", parents will be allowed to opt their kids out of sex education. I guess for them, ignorance is bliss.

[Karma7]

To Coburn’s credit, he is one of the few US Senators who has kept his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend our Constitution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-PxA5nUjkg

However,

To his enormous discredit – -Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Coburn a grade of F
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=22085&type=category&category=66 .

Coburn has consistently voted
against -outpatient and inpatient care and treatment for veterans
against - funding veteran healthcare programs
against -closing corporate tax loopholes to increase funds for medical services for veterans
against – emergency supplemental appropriations for veterans
against – a suicide prevention bill for veterans

and the list goes on and on and on

http://dav.capwiz.com/bio/id/483

[gbenga30]

Tom Coburn is an evangelical zealot. You would think that as a trained physician he would understand how contraception can save lives and prevent unwanted pregnancies, but he is more interested in playing to the Evangelical right that actually helping him. His hometown of Muskogee is a real pit.

[Kungfublood]

Some un-evolved people can't have sex , they can only have guilt ,denial and children.

[murphy80]

the senator from oklahoma just likes to hear himself talk.

i can't point to any program that he initiated or expends any energy on.

as an OB doctor, he ignored the needs of his community when becoming a senator.

and his effort to work part time at GW hospital was his protest of senate rules.

Dr. Tom loves to swim upstream, no need to talk to anyone.

[shadow322]

This is a perfect case that questions - can we really lead? The Republicans can still shut down our programs and soil our intent - but we are not even willing to show the public what hippocrites they are. This idea of "can't we all work together" is past being legitimate. The Republicans have declared themselves to be in direct opposition to anything this administration comes up with - regardless of the cost to working citizens. No wonder so many Democrats lose interest and pride when the Republican motto is "Come fight the commie liberals with us" and our message is "don't talk bad back to them, we're just trying to get along." That has been our weakness ever since Ducacus acted like he was wearing a dress and lipstick at our national convention years ago. The people need an firm identity that contrasts and balances the Republican's "no solutions but pleanty of fight" or we'll lose again and soon!

[Feesister]

All federal funding for abstinence-only programs should be eliminated. This seems like a no-brainer to me, particularly in light of the indisputable evidence that these programs DON'T WORK! Talk about wasteful spending.....

[historymatters]

The GOP's hypocrisy is showing again. Big surprise!

[BarryS]

All abstinence-only congress people should have a televised lie-detector test about their, their spouse's and their children's experience of abstinence only -- JUST LIKE SARAH PALIN. and those that fail, shoild resign, and be publically chastized.

[joebaggadonuts]

Seems like if they are going to take out the research into pork stink in Iowa, it's only fair to remove this other white meat.

[cravingtruthiness]

Here's an idea for Coburn, Specter & McCain - the latter as he has not spoken out to have this tripe removed from the spending bill:

All three Senators should be forced to adopt fully every single baby that has been born to every single chastity-sworn, abstinence only girl between the ages of the youngest age (was going to say 16 but who knows) and 21 personally, except also be required to absolutely NOT have them covered in the "socialist" senatorial health care that these "socialist" Senators enjoy.

this way they can put their money where their big mouths are - esp Mc - how many houses do i own? - Cain. Save all the taxpayers money and then maybe we can start to take them seriously - as long as they sign a written contract to keep taking in all of those babies, prob something like 100/month.

what do you say abstinence-until-marriage guys? Let's start with the little Palin baby ....

[PatA]

I am from Oklahoma and live in Texas now..with Rick Perry as governor. :-(

Tom Coburn is an idiot and very, very dangerous.

[sparkandy]

I'm still in Oklahoma and I think he's an idiot.