Legislation & Issues
Ethics-based reform is desperately needed in Congress but regulating the lobbying industry is only treating the symptoms of the disease. The problem in Washington, D.C., is not the lobbyists. The problem is members of Congress.
When a disgraced lobbyist described Congress and its budget process as an “earmark favor factory,” most Americans were reminded that earmarks are a key aspect of the culture of corruption in Washington, D.C. Corruption scandals involving members of Congress revealed that earmarks are the gateway drug that leads to spending addictions.
The climate in Washington has provided lobbyists the ability to wine and dine congressmen in a culture where votes and influence are bought and sold. Congress does not need to reform the lobbying industry as much as it needs to reform itself.
I believe disclosure and transparency is the best disinfectant against corruption because I trust the wisdom of the electorate far more than I trust politicians. By forcing disclosure and transparency, the public will be able tie together the nexus between gifts from lobbyists with the “special interest” earmark from a congressman in return.
If politicians have to report on everything they do, the public will be aware of their transgressions and consequently corrupt politicians will be thrown out of office.
For the American people, the ethics scandals only are beginning to connect the dots between politicians, individual earmarks, lobbyists and campaign contributions. If Congress fails to enact meaningful reforms that attack this climate of corruption at its source the public will, and should, take reform into its own hands at the ballot box.
For these reasons and more, it always has been my policy to not request any earmarks.
When a disgraced lobbyist described Congress and its budget process as an “earmark favor factory,” most Americans were reminded that earmarks are a key aspect of the culture of corruption in Washington, D.C. Corruption scandals involving members of Congress revealed that earmarks are the gateway drug that leads to spending addictions.
The climate in Washington has provided lobbyists the ability to wine and dine congressmen in a culture where votes and influence are bought and sold. Congress does not need to reform the lobbying industry as much as it needs to reform itself.
I believe disclosure and transparency is the best disinfectant against corruption because I trust the wisdom of the electorate far more than I trust politicians. By forcing disclosure and transparency, the public will be able tie together the nexus between gifts from lobbyists with the “special interest” earmark from a congressman in return.
If politicians have to report on everything they do, the public will be aware of their transgressions and consequently corrupt politicians will be thrown out of office.
For the American people, the ethics scandals only are beginning to connect the dots between politicians, individual earmarks, lobbyists and campaign contributions. If Congress fails to enact meaningful reforms that attack this climate of corruption at its source the public will, and should, take reform into its own hands at the ballot box.
For these reasons and more, it always has been my policy to not request any earmarks.
Press Releases
October 2012
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10/9/12 | WASTEBOOK 2012 |
August 2012
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June 2012
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April 2012
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February 2012
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January 2012
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November 2011
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October 2011
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September 2011
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July 2011
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June 2011
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May 2011
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March 2011
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February 2011
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September 2010
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August 2007
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July 2007
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News
August 2007
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8/7/07 | Opinion: Northern Exposure |
July 2007
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7/31/07 | Dems unveil ethics plan |
Floor Statements
September 2012
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May 2012
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April 2012
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January 2012
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November 2011
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July 2011
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August 2007
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Floor Action
May 2012
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5/17/12 | Dr. Coburn Asks the RNC & DNC to Reject Public Financing For Political Party Conventions |
April 2012
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4/25/12 | Dr. Coburn's Efforts to Limit Spending on Government Conferences |
March 2012
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3/8/12 | Senate to Vote on Coburn Duplication Amendment #1738 to the Highway Bill, S.1813 |
January 2012
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1/30/12 | Dr. Coburn Filed the Following Amendments to the STOCK Act |
October 2011
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10/7/11 | CRS Report on Majority Leader Reid Limiting Debate by Filling the Amendment Tree |
August 2011
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8/17/11 | The Truth About Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress |
July 2011
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7/27/11 | 9,000,000,000,000 Ways to Balance the Budget |
May 2011
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5/18/11 | Dr. Coburn Requests Investigation on Eligibility of Certain Individuals Collecting Social Security Disability Insurance |
April 2011
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4/4/11 | Dr. Coburn's amendments to cut spending by $20 billion |
May 2010
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5/11/10 | Dr. Coburn Has Introduced Bipartisan Legislation Creating Earmark Database |