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Coburn: Lawmakers Are Headed to Prison
The Tulsa World ^ | April 15, 2006 | Randy Krehbiel

Posted on 04/15/2006 1:32:07 PM PDT by OkeyDokeyOkie

The U.S. senator says he expects such a fallout from the lobbying scandal.

WAGONER -- U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn said Friday that he expects six congressmen and a fellow senator to go to jail on corruption charges in the wake of investigations involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others.

The Oklahoma Republican declined to name any of the seven, but said, "if you've been keeping up with things, you've got a pretty good idea."

Coburn's remarks came during a town hall meeting at the Wagoner Civic Center attended by about 30 people, and were made in relation to his attempts to curb "earmarking" -- the practice of inserting appropriations for specific projects into unrelated bills.

"Earmarks are used for the gateway drug to overspending," Coburn said. "Everywhere you see an earmark, you'll see a connection to a campaign contribution."

Some of those connections began coming to light in the last year. Abramoff was sentenced to more than five in prison last month and may face additional charges related to his dealings with several Indian tribes. Coburn indicated after speaking Friday that his prediction was at least partly based on his service on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, has been under scrutiny after taking more than $22,000 in campaign contributions from Indian tribes that were clients of Abramoff. Former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., has already been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for taking bribes from defense contractors.

Coburn said members of both parties have been involved in questionable dealings and mentioned U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, a West Virginia Democrat whose assets reportedly increased more than six-fold during a four-year period in which he was the se nior member of the House Appropriations and Ethics committees.

Coburn said a "more aggressive press" would help expose connections between earmarks and campaign contributions but agreed such ties are often difficult to document, in part because the authorship of earmarks is not easily determined.

"The first step in campaign finance reform is the elimination of earmarks," Coburn said.

On other topics:

Coburn reiterated his support for tightening U.S. borders but cautioned that "immigration is not our biggest problem."

"Building a fence (between the U.S. and Mexico) isn't the answer," he said.

Coburn, a physician, said one way to control malpractice claims and bring down health care costs is for the medical profession to be more open.

"If you could measure outcomes and quality of physicians, and they had to make it available, the bad physicians aren't going to get any business," Coburn said.

Coburn repeated his call for individual health insurance subsidized by tax credits that would "take employers out of the mix."

Coburn said the Senate is prepared to impose tariffs of up to 27 percent if China does not revalue its currency.

"Now, what will happen is the (World Trade Organization) will say that isn't right, and then we'll file a lawsuit, but in the meantime we'll put that tariff on. I don't want to put that tariff on China. I want China to play by the rules it agreed to." ----------------------------------------

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365 randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Oklahoma
KEYWORDS: 109th; abramoff; bobney; coburn; corruption; dukecunningham; earmarks; lobbyists; mollohan
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"The enjoyment of power inevitably corrupts the judgment of reason, and perverts its liberty." Immanuel Kant
1 posted on 04/15/2006 1:32:08 PM PDT by OkeyDokeyOkie
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To: OkeyDokeyOkie

Coburn on fence: not necessary.

I ask: what else do you have mind, Tom?


2 posted on 04/15/2006 1:35:24 PM PDT by CheyennePress
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To: OkeyDokeyOkie

Anyone want to guess who "the 7" are? I haven't a clue.


3 posted on 04/15/2006 1:37:34 PM PDT by butternut_squash_bisque (The recipe's at my FR HomePage)
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To: CheyennePress

Shoot on sight policy?


4 posted on 04/15/2006 1:37:52 PM PDT by msnimje (Illegals to US CITIZENS .... "You Suck.......Now pass the mash potatoes!")
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To: Phsstpok; Bahbah; Mo1; Peach; MNJohnnie; tiredoflaundry; defconw; eeevil conservative; OldFriend; ..

Hey guys....check out what Sen. Coburn is saying.


5 posted on 04/15/2006 1:39:15 PM PDT by Txsleuth
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To: OkeyDokeyOkie; fieldmarshaldj; AuH2ORepublican; BigSkyFreeper; MikefromOhio; NeoCaveman; ...

Tom Coburn doesn't wince from speaking out.

The fellow Senator he's talking about is Conrad Burns. It's appalling that Burns insists on staying in the race.


6 posted on 04/15/2006 1:40:04 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued (Bob Taft for Impeachment)
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To: OkeyDokeyOkie

"'Building a fence (between the U.S. and Mexico) isn't the answer,' he said."

It may not be THE answer, but I think it would be a helpful part of it.


7 posted on 04/15/2006 1:42:13 PM PDT by Gil4 (This tagline for rent - cheap!)
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To: Clintonfatigued

I was thinking it was Burns also...but, remember a while back, Harry Reid's name was mentioned pretty prominently with this case.

Also, unfortunately, I think JD Hayworth's was also..I PRAY he isn't one of the House members he is talking about.


8 posted on 04/15/2006 1:42:54 PM PDT by Txsleuth
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To: OkeyDokeyOkie
>>>"The first step in campaign finance reform is the elimination of earmarks," Coburn said. <<<

No Tom, the first is elimination of the unconstitutional "gag rule" that says you can't fund advertising within 60 days of an election.

Elimination of earmarks is second - after you slap Mccain and Feingold "up side the haid".

9 posted on 04/15/2006 1:43:37 PM PDT by HardStarboard (Get legal or get out!)
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To: Txsleuth

Thanks for the ping!!

I like Coburn...

disagree with him on the wall/fence thing...but haven't found anything else about him yet that I haven't loved...


10 posted on 04/15/2006 1:44:01 PM PDT by eeevil conservative (I'm not racist- I'm an Equal Opportunity Enemy of ALL LAWBREAKING, TAX DODGING, FENCE CLIMBERS!)
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To: OkeyDokeyOkie

I like Coburn. I remember how he got zilch in national support from GOP in his race.


11 posted on 04/15/2006 1:45:18 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: CheyennePress

An ICS that does more than give lip service to enforcement of law.


12 posted on 04/15/2006 1:47:07 PM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: Txsleuth

Thank you sooooo much for the ping. Lots of interesting comments. I wish he was my Senator. Mine are both conservative, but are largely standard issue politicians I've come to think, not that I would switch for a Hillary! or a Boxer. I am willing to hear why a fence is not an answer to illegal immigration, or at least part of one, but I'd like to know if he said what is.

Shock of the day for me: one of my darling but liberal daughters (I'm working on it) and I agree pretty much 100% on the illegal problem. She was very informed on the issue and was just *gasp* using her intelligence and common sense...and she knows when she is being lied to. What a lovely day...and we went out to buy lilies. End of ramble.


13 posted on 04/15/2006 1:48:34 PM PDT by Bahbah (Harry Reid is a Liar;Ted Kennedy is a BIG FAT Liar: edited by tiredoflaundry)
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To: OkeyDokeyOkie

Personally I think 90% of the congress belongs in jail


14 posted on 04/15/2006 1:49:24 PM PDT by ears_to_hear ("I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. ")
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To: Gil4

A few CEO's doing the perp walk would probably be the closest thing to "The Answer", but strong fences do make good neighbors.


15 posted on 04/15/2006 1:50:11 PM PDT by magslinger (Every time taxes are raised, a liberal gets his wings. John Kass)
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To: butternut_squash_bisque
Anyone want to guess who "the 7" are? I haven't a clue.

It says One Senator and 6 Congresscritters, so that (from reading other articles) has to include Senator Burns & Congressman Ney (R-OH). Congressman Mollihan (D-WVA) is also under investigation.

16 posted on 04/15/2006 1:51:03 PM PDT by NeoCaveman (the freeper formerly known as dubyaismypresident)
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To: Tribune7
I don't think Coburn really has to worry about national support. The way that he has been standing up for conservative values, I would guess he probably has the most loyal conservative voting base in the country.
17 posted on 04/15/2006 1:51:03 PM PDT by burzum (A single reprimand does more for a man of intelligence than a hundred lashes for a fool.--Prov 17:10)
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To: Bahbah

Sounds great about your daughter...there is a good conservative in there..that will come out slowly but surely...IMHO. LOL

RE: Coburn and immigration----I was surprised about the fence part..but more surprised that he said it wasn't that big of a problem....maybe he feels that way as a "national problem"..but surely he doesn't think that politically it isn't a problem!!

I am so curious, yet worried, about who the Congresscritters are that he is referring to in the Abramoff "scandal".

Another poster said it is Conrad Burns GOP...but I seem to remember that Harry Reid's name came up also...do you??


18 posted on 04/15/2006 1:53:33 PM PDT by Txsleuth
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To: burzum

"The way that he has been standing up for conservative values, I would guess he probably has the most loyal conservative voting base in the country."

I think the pundits will be surprised to see how conservative voters get out and support Coburn and others willing to stand up against the Democrats and wimpy RINO leadership in the Senate.


19 posted on 04/15/2006 1:53:38 PM PDT by nj26
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To: Clintonfatigued

Yeah, Burns gave back over $100,000. There have been Democrats and Republicans returning money as of late.

Montana's other Senator, Max Baucas, has given money back. Dorgan, Reid, and Harkin have also received over $50,000 from Abramoff.


20 posted on 04/15/2006 1:53:41 PM PDT by CheyennePress
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