Tom Coburn

If you are going to filibuster, you ought to be out there talking and have people who agree with you willing to carry out a filibuster rather than the threat of a filibuster.

I would just put forth in a final statement the fact that we have the budget situation we are in today would be a sign that we get along way too well rather than do not get along well enough.

Sure, but what we do is allow gerrymandering in this country where the Congressman picks his district rather than the district pick their Congressman.

I think what is sorely lacking in Washington is leadership.

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and infinite.

What it means to be American, a free and plentiful access to the rule of law for everybody, that has to come when you have character and integrity in those that are making those decisions.

I think our two nominees are a great example of how we have chosen to work with the Administration on getting quality candidates for Federal positions.

I submit the following notice in writing: In accordance with Rule V of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby give notice in writing that it is my intention to offer an amendment to the Standing Rules of the Senate, by proposing…

We are short-term thinkers, not long-term, and we have created tons of problems because of that.

What we have to do is pay attention to what our goal was originally.

Eighty-five percent of them know we are not doing our job, and the fact is we make a political calculation rather than a character calculation about the future of our country.

If we want to solve it, we can solve these problems; we don't have to have a fight with the President.

I would much rather negotiate with you, Congressman Cummings, than I would the Chinese.

What we ought to be doing for our veterans, we promised them health care. Give them a card.

I think this committee does a great job, whether it is led by a Democrat or Republican.

I think tax reform is something that we need to do.

Not one major thing was done off their report last year, except what Virginia Fox did in terms of consolidating some 35 work and job training programs.

The country is drowning in debt. We have a $1.3 trillion deficit.

It would be a guess. It is an educated guess, but I would imagine we have $15 to $18 worth of speculation in the price of oil.

I think the problem is elections. And I think it is the lack of courage and character in Members of Congress.

Job training money from Washington is spent to keep the people employed in job training working, not training people for new jobs in Oklahoma.

The one key thing, we don't have any metrics on any of this.

We, as Members of Congress, don't know what is going on, and in our desire to please and to meet compassionately a need, we do try to act, but we act without knowledge because we haven't done the oversight.

We have totally vanquished opportunity for our kids in the future.

What is disappointing is so few Members of your body are here, which identifies what the real problem is in Congress.