Candid Coburn: Debt Deal Won't Reduce Spending in FY 2012!

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) says that Republicans should have nothing to smile about in regards to the debt-limit bill passed by Congress yesterday, an act that he says does not actually cut spending for fiscal year 2012. CNSNews.com cornered Sen. Coburn prior to the Senate vote on the Budget Control Act of 2011 Tuesday night:

In an op-ed in the Washington Post yesterday, Sen. Coburn explained his frustration with the bill and how it has been presented by politicians and the media:

"In spite of what politicians on both sides are saying, this agreement does not cut any spending over 10 years. In fact, it increases discretionary spending by $830 billion.

I voted against this agreement because it does nothing to address the real drivers of our debt. It eliminates no program, consolidates no duplicative programs, cuts no tax earmarks and reforms no entitlement program. The specter of default or a credit downgrade will still hang over our economy after this deal becomes law."

CNSNews reports that according to the Congressional Budget Office, almost all the cuts would be made in 2014 or beyond. Discretionary spending would be cut $21 billion in 2012 and $42 billion in 2013.

Other conservative lawmakers have dittoed Sen. Coburn's skepticism of the immediate spending reduction coming from Tuesday's bill, and likewise voted against it.

“The bill increases the nation's debt burden while placing the responsibility of dealing with Washington's addiction to debt and deficit spending on yet another commission, and on future Congresses and future Presidents," said Rep. Steve King of Iowa.

"President Obama says he wants a balanced approach," said Rep. Jim Inhofe of Oklahaoma. "What we need is a balanced budget."