Tom Coburn: “this is an amendment I offered earlier in the year on a previous appropriations bill. I want to set the stage for this…”

“this is an amendment I offered earlier in the year on a previous appropriations bill. I want to set the stage for this because I think this is probably one of the most important amendments I will offer in the Senate. It is important the American public recognize what this amendment does. Appropriations bills start in the House. They come to the Senate. They are met in conference. In the House bill there is report language. In the Senate bill there is report language. In that report language is where you find out where the money is going to be spent. The purpose of this amendment is to make sure, when a bill comes out of conference, that the Members of this body know where all the money is going to be spent before they vote on the bill. There is no lack of desire for many of us who want to know that, but it is hard to find out as you approach the conference bill; that is, for us. But it is also difficult for the American people to know. What this amendment is about is about sunshine. It is about sunshine on the legislative process so that the American people know items that are special projects for Members of Congress, items that have been earmarked or especially directed that we ought to know of, and what that is ought to be in the report language, where it is going and to whom it is going. This amendment received 34 votes last time. I think it is absolutely imperative for us to keep the integrity of our appropriations process so that we know, No.…”