Sen. Coburn Promises "Several More" Stunts To Delay Health Care Reform

[seeinfweggos]

December 16, 2009 6:14 pm ET by Matt Finkelstein

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) tried to shut down the Senate today by demanding that a single-payer health care amendment introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) be read in its entirety. The amendment was 767 pages long. After the clerks read for roughly 2.5 hours, Sanders withdrew the amendment calling it an "outrage" that Republicans would "bring the United States government to a halt." Think Progress noted that, "at the pace it was proceeding, the reading of the bill would take 14.5 hours."

A few hours later, Coburn was a guest on Sean Hannity's radio show. During the segment, Coburn complained that Sanders had withdrawn the amendment, claiming that interrupting the reading violated Senate rules (more on that to come). Nonetheless, Coburn promised "several more" parliamentary stunts to hold up the bill:

HANNITY: You guys are standing really strong here and you're using every parliamentary procedure at your disposal. What is the next step here and what weapons do you have in your arsenal to battle back against this?

COBURN: Well, Sean, I actually don't want to say this because somebody might be listening, and I don't want 'em to know what the next step's going to be. There will be several more attempts to derail this bill from a parliamentary standpoint by me

http://mediamattersaction.org/blog/200912160008

[AndyA]

1. Any one else find it pathetic that a doctor would take steps to PREVENT

people from having access to health care?

They ought to pull his license! What a disgrace. Human life is more precious than anything, and this idiot doctor is proud of his "stunts" that are intentionally delaying access to health care for millions.

I wonder if there's a way to file a complaint on Coburn, this sure seems to be against everything a doctor should stand for.

[DrDan]

4. only in our eyes - on his side, he is a hero for taking strong action

[madokie]

7. Even doctors can be dicks

as dr tom coburn shows

[seeinfweggos]

9. lot's of them are dicks and against reform

[CreekDog]

2. If he gets Vitter involved, maybe they can raise some money

:think:

[SpiralHawk]

8. A Republicon Diaper Fashion Show would, um, mess things up

But the republicons have already done that...guess they are looking for new ways to make sure America Fails.

[DrDan]

3. why would Sanders stop the reading? Why not let that continue?

Aren't stunts like this anticipated? We know we are dealing with the scum of the earth - we should know they will pull these stunts. Why be surprised - and why back down?

I you are going to introduce an amendment, shouldn't you be prepared for these consequences?

[groundloop]

5. Yes, let the rep-tards (and Joe) fillibuster 'till they're blue in the face too

Then the news media would have no choice but to expose Doctor No and his Party of NO.

[IADEMO2004]

6. As soon as Iowa quits electing Grassley I am going to tear into Oklahoma. nt

[Trekologer]

10. There are a number of things that can be done to combat that

1. Keep calling for quorum, which requires at least 51 Senators to be present. Have the Sergeant at Arms forcibly return the republicans to the chamber.

2. Reinstate the rule that to filibuster, one must continuously debate on the floor. Keep the Senate in session 24/7. If the republicans stop debating, cloture is automatically invoked. This is an option of the Majority Leader. Do it Harry.