Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- It's the legislative equivalent of rush hour on Capitol Hill and Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, is threatening to throw himself into traffic.
The freshman lawmaker has waged a war on spending by blocking more than 90 bills this year. Now, as his colleagues rush to finish the congressional session before Christmas, Coburn is threatening to use his power to say ``no'' to try to slow a frenzy of lawmaking, including such items as a measure to ease the subprime lending crisis.
The spurt of last-minute activity often makes the final weeks of a legislative session among the most productive. The time crunch, however, also can give a single lawmaker an opportunity to run out the clock on legislation by using procedural maneuvers. Coburn, 59, said he may do just that as lawmakers try to rush bills, sometimes without reading them, because there is a lot of pressure to pass them and go home.
``The last thing we ought to be doing at the end of the session is passing a bill without vetting it, without debating it, without talking about the problems,'' Coburn said. ``I am happy to be here for Christmas.''
Coburn has warned his colleagues he will try to block any late-breaking bills that increase spending, telling them to see him about working out a compromise. Coburn also refuses to rule out blocking a $500 billion catch-all spending bill Democrats still want to push through the chamber.
Unofficial Role
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the chamber's No. 2 Democrat, said Coburn is trying to carve out an unofficial leadership post.
``He believes he should have the authority to approve everything that comes to the floor,'' said Durbin, 63. ``If each and every senator took that responsibility on themselves nothing would get done.''
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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a81IFBF.O.BE&refer=us
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