Sen. Tom Coburn Discusses Wasteful Spending on ‘Wilkow!’

Nov. 27, 2012 8:54pm Christopher Santarelli

Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn is known for his unrelenting pursuit to expose frivolous, wasteful and/or unconstitutional spending by the federal government, and is author of “The Debt Bomb,” a recent book book outlining the depth of and escape route from this current fiscal crisis. Coburn released a new report last week that outlines $68 billion in cuts over 10 years to the Pentagon, which he dubs the “Department of Everything,” that would end the billions the military spends on running grocery stores, operating its own schools, non-military research, and tuition assistance. Coburn joined ‘Wilkow!‘ Tuesday to discuss wasteful spending and talks of amnesty for illegal immigrants:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (9)

Gary_K
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:08pm
Who says barry flobama isn’t good for business.

http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/obama-vs-house-on-guns-who-will-prevail/

“On Black Friday last week, a record-high 154,873 background check requests were made, a 20 percent increase over last year’s record of 129,166.

The Pruetts said that in October 2008, their sales were $230,000, far above the monthly average of $150,000. But in November 2008, sales skyrocketed to $550,000.

The couple doesn’t have a count yet for October and November of this year, but Jim Pruett predicts that the ratio is a 20-to-1 increase since Election Day, the Houston paper reported.”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- November28
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 5:39am
  Retail sales are still down from the hey day of the mid 2000s.Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
Apple Bite
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:02pm
I have to disagree with Coburn on the grocery stores, and schools that the military spends on. If it weren’t for those schools, you wouldn’t have very many right thinking children coming into the public. And those stores make it possible for the families to live off the meager wages they earn. Military families aren’t making thousands of dollars a year. Oft times, civilians are making much better wages and don’t have to conform to military code in their daily lives.

I guess a part of me is bias since I came up in a military family. But having lived in those conditions, in desolate places like Oscoda, MI and Great Falls, MT. I’ve seen both sides of the military life. it isn’t easy at all for families to have to live in some of these places they’re sent to. And as you can imagine, it’s potentially worse as a G.I.

And on top of it, their lives are on the line. The least we can do as taxpaying citizens is take care of them in a way that will make their life easier than it could be. If that means letting them build schools and stores on installations when needed, then so be it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- PunkMooCow
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:02am
  I would totally agree with your assessment of military families and the hardships they endure because of pay differences with the civilian world. Raises aren’t often and are never competitive with civilian pay. I would also add that they (schools and stores) tighten the military communities by providing employment to dependents. Another thought on the matter is the fact that military get paid the same no matter where they are stationed. There is no cost of living associated with their assigned duty stations like federal employees receive. Dont discredit his work against wasteful spending on that point alone though. Senator Coburn brings to light a great number of examples though in regards to wasteful spending. I am sure some more of his highlights are somewhat debatable but many are seriously disgusting. For example; the non profit status of sports leagues. As a hockey fan it sickens me that I can not watch a game right now because the NHL and players are arguing over how to split profits yet they are a not for profit entity??
  
  Report this comment
- jwpowers41
  Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:09pm
  As former military and having family in the military the savings at the commisary on base keeps
  these families afloat plus the long deployments leaving family behind
  
  Report this comment
PunkMooCow
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:33pm
If you haven’t checked Senator Coburns Wastebook 2012 yet…I highly recommend it n(google it, it’s there in PDF). I wish I could get more people to read it and see what a complete waste of money is out there..I would also recommend looking at individual congressional budgets. It would blow your mind..if we taught each rep’s staff how to purchase and use (and reuse) a water bottle ..it would save millions of dollars per year. Stupid simple waste of money..each rep’s budget consists of bottled water purchases in the thousands of dollars per quarter. All this idiotic stuff adds up and the taxpayer funds it. There is so much entitlement by our leaders it’s no wonder their constituents want a piece too.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on November 27, 2012 at 10:43pm
  http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=b7b23f66-2d60-4d5a-8bc5-8522c7e1a40e
  
  Report this comment
Gary_K
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:14pm
Government wasteful spending = barry flobama’s pay.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
dean_buvia
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:07pm
Not nearly enough Coburns in Washington. Sucks to be us.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.