News from the Swamp: Senate showdown

(The Patriot Post) - Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and his fellow Republicans banded together to prevent Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) omnibus earmark package from reaching a vote this week. The 52-40 vote to consider the $10-billion collection of 35 previously stymied spending bills fell eight votes short of the 60 required. When we reported two weeks ago on Reid’s sly attempt to revive earlier earmarks that Coburn single-handedly sunk, we were skeptical that the GOP would stick together in the face of earmark spending that curries favor with constituents. Thankfully, the appeal to reduce spending on duplicate and unproven programs weighed more greatly on their collective conscience than the desire for perceived easy re-election back home. Score a small victory for sensible government spending. Unfortunately, that victory is in the face of a budget deficit forecasted to exceed $482 billion in the coming fiscal year.