Dems Fail to Override GOP's Bill-Blocker

Reid's bundled bill designed to trump Coburn falls short
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 29, 2008 9:42 AM CDT
Dems Fail to Override GOP's Bill-Blocker
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid forged an omnibus bill to override Coburn's moves to halt legislation.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

A bill aimed at trumping one senator’s efforts to block dozens of pieces of legislation was itself halted yesterday, the Washington Post reports. Sen. Tom Coburn has held up some 80 bills to prevent spending he considers unnecessary; Democrat Harry Reid's legislative omnibus, which contained 35 bills in one, would have pushed many of them through. Republicans said considering the “Tomnibus” would have taken time from addressing energy and gas concerns.

“The American people are asking us to do something about the price of gas at the pump,” said minority leader Mitch McConnell. Coburn is “adamantly” against just five of the 35 bills, he said, including one regarding interstate ape transport and another creating a War of 1812 bicentennial celebration committee. Coburn has said he’ll only stay in the Senate for two terms. (More Congress stories.)

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