October 26, 2005

The Coburn Amendments

I received an email from Senator Coburn's office today regarding the amount of calls they have received in regards to the amendments he submitted to cut pork spending to things such as the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska to pay for Hurricane Katrina damage. As you know, those amendments were soundly defeated by 80+ porkers in the Senate (including our own esteemed Senators Frist and Alexander).

Here's what I received from Coburn's office:

I thought you might be interested in some of the feedback that Senator Coburn has received regarding last week’s debate over the “bridge-to-nowhere.” On the floor, Senator Coburn talked about a “rumble” across the nation against wasteful spending. That rumble appears to be reflected in the call tally below.

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Constituent phone calls from 10/17/05 to 10/21/05

Out of state calls for Coburn HUD/Trans Appropriation amendments (including a dozen Alaskans and 2 dozen from the state of Washington).

Pro - 256
Con - 0

In-state calls for Coburn HUD/Trans Appropriation amendments

Pro - 121
Con - 0

Should Members of Congress forgo their annual automatic pay raise and put the savings toward Hurricane Katrina recovery costs?

Yes - 91%
No - 9%
678 total vote(s)

Our "conservative" Senator Lamar Alexander will be on Steve Gill's morning radio show tomorrow. I asked Gill tonight if he was going to ask him why he voted against the Coburn Amendments. He said that he is.

As a constituent, I really am interested in the answer.

More: John Stossel writes about the Coburn amendments as well.

Comments:

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Excellent job Blake, as usual.

Posted by: Glen Dean at October 26, 2005 09:37 PM

"Our "conservative" Senator Lamar Alexander will be on Steve Gill's morning radio show tomorrow. I asked Gill tonight if he was going to ask him why he voted against the Coburn Amendments. He said that he is."

Good lookin' out, Wylie. Both our "conservative" senators could use a good solid push towards true limited government.

Did you email Gill or do you like know him personally? Ya big powerbroker.

Posted by: Kleinheider at October 26, 2005 11:42 PM

You're doing a great job.

Posted by: Sharon at October 27, 2005 12:31 AM

As I prepared to call the show, I heard Steve say he would ask Lamar why he voted for the pork. I didn't get to hear the actual interview as "The Powers That Be" won't let us listen to a radio or the internet feed while we are at work. Was there any actual diaglog on this? or did Lamar do his usual two-step dance?

Posted by: RustyO at October 27, 2005 10:50 AM

AC...We know each other. I asked him last night at the Scene's big "Best of Nashville" party.

I don't know about being a powerbroker though. lol

Posted by: B at October 27, 2005 05:10 PM