Coburn looks to attach $20 billion in cuts to small business bill

Coburn’s announcement came not long after Sen. Rand Paul
(R-Ky.) announced that he would offer an amendment to the small business bill
that would slash $200 billion in spending this fiscal year.

While the small business legislation has already hit the
Senate floor, it’s far from clear when the measure will get a vote. Congress is
expected to be away from Washington next week, and the Senate still needs to
consider the short-term spending measure the House passed on Tuesday.

Coburn’s other proposed cuts are to: eliminate duplicative
government programs fingered in a recent GAO report ($5 billion, his office
says), do away with unemployment payments to millionaires ($20 million), roll
back the government’s buying of new cars ($900 million), eliminate funds for
“covered bridges” program ($8.5 million) and stop government funding for public
broadcasting ($550 million).

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has also offered amendments to the
small business measure that would, among other things, take aim at Planned
Parenthood and the health care overhaul.