(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement today after the Senate rejected his amendment by a vote of 40 to 58 to pay for the AGOA bill by reducing spending on duplicative and wasteful programs.

“This country is full of people outside of Washington who are used to making hard choices.  They are doing that in these tough economic times every day.  Sadly, the Senate lacks the intestinal fortitude to do the same.  This should have been an easy vote and an easy way to save $200 million.  Instead, we borrowed $200 million, which is a deferred tax increase on every American.  I’m especially disappointed so many who have supported eliminating duplication in the past switched their votes and supported more borrowing and deferred tax increases.  Votes like the one today speak volumes about why we have a $16 trillion debt and an approval rating of nine percent,” Dr. Coburn said.

Full background on the Coburn amendment is here.

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