Coburn Opposes Ethics Bill
Oklahoma's maverick U. S. Senator Tom Coburn says he won't run for re-election if an ethics bill that's passed the Senate becomes law.
Coburn's faces election in 2010; he's one of two senators who voted against the bill and says an "innocent mistake" would cost a lawmaker $500,000 to defend himself against action. He said he voted against the bill because the process of drafting and passing it had not been open enough. “Some of the things that happened along the way to the bill didn't allow the American people to really know what was going on,” he explained. The bill passed 96-2. It requires senators to give up gifts and free travel from lobbyists, pay more for travel on corporate jets and more clearly identify pet projects they insert into bills.
The bill now goes to the U. S. House for action.
Coburn's faces election in 2010; he's one of two senators who voted against the bill and says an "innocent mistake" would cost a lawmaker $500,000 to defend himself against action. He said he voted against the bill because the process of drafting and passing it had not been open enough. “Some of the things that happened along the way to the bill didn't allow the American people to really know what was going on,” he explained. The bill passed 96-2. It requires senators to give up gifts and free travel from lobbyists, pay more for travel on corporate jets and more clearly identify pet projects they insert into bills.
The bill now goes to the U. S. House for action.
Labels: Ethics, Tom Coburn
posted by Mike McCarville @ 7:39 AM
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