Tom Coburn
U.S. Senator
Republican, Oklahoma
- Date of Birth: March 14, 1948
- Birthplace: Casper, Wyo.
- First Elected: 2004
Committee Assignments:
Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Senate Committee on the JudiciaryTom Coburn, a doctor, has never been afraid to express his conservative views clearly—even if they take his own party to task. He was elected to represent Oklahoma’s second congressional district in the House in November 1994. He frequently battled with fellow Republican and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, believing his party was moving away from political conservatism. Coburn says he is committed to serving limited terms, so he retired from the House in 2001. When he was elected to his Senate seat in 2004, he promised to serve only two six-year terms. Called a “budget hawk” Coburn made Alaska’s “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark infamous and is nicknamed “Dr. No” for the frequent use of his right as a senator to hold debate on a bill. Democratic leadership created the “Tomnibus,” a collection of Coburn-blocked bills totaling $10 billion, out of frustration with the Oklahoma senator’s holds. The 2008 bill did not garner the necessary 60 votes it needed to be considered, but a modified version of the Tomnibus passed the Senate in January 2009. It failed to pass in the House. Coburn, a father of three and a grandfather of four, is anti-abortion rights and is active in the pro-life movement. He has advocated for government transparency, funding for HIV treatment and prevention, and increased access to non-government-run healthcare.
Campaign Fundraising
2005 - Present| Top 5 Organizations | PACs | Individuals | Total |
| Club for Growth | $0 | $70,650 | $70,650 |
| Emergent BioSolutions | $5,000 | $15,650 | $20,650 |
| American Surgical Hospital Assn | $20,000 | $0 | $20,000 |
| American Securities | $0 | $16,800 | $16,800 |
| Neuroscience Specialists | $0 | $16,119 | $16,119 |
| Top 5 Industries | PACs | Individuals | Total |
| Health Professionals | $112,000 | $84,669 | $196,669 |
| Oil & Gas | $102,000 | $66,450 | $168,450 |
| Leadership PACs | $123,608 | $950 | $124,558 |
| Retired | $0 | $121,350 | $121,350 |
| Republican/Conservative | $7,693 | $104,950 | $112,643 |
Tom Coburn in the News
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Obama Decision on Contraceptives Won't Stop Legislative Push
February 10, 2012
Critics blast Obama compromise, still plan to push issue in Congress -
Sepp: Why Do Obama, Dems Continue to Punish Job-Creating Energy Industry?
February 07, 2012
Over-taxing the oil and gas companies will not help America create more jobs. - Does Obama's plan raise taxes? Yes. Does it cut taxes? Yes. The natural way to judge a policy proposal is to compare it to a world in which we do nothing. In that world, all of the Bush tax cuts expire, raising about $3.7 trillion. Compared to that world, Obama's plan…
- Beating deadline, Congress approves transportation bill TODAY'S TAKEThe U.S. Senate has followed the House of Representatives and approved a six-month extension of federal transportation funding, giving states some breathing room and avoiding a shutdown of infrastructure projects around the nation.President Obama and many state leaders had…
- Coburn Relents, FAA/Surface Transportation Bill Passes Last night, it didn't look as if the Senate would be able to get the clean extension of both the FAA authorization and the surface transportation authorization before a deadline of today. Tom Coburn was holding up the bill in a fruitless crusade against bike paths. It's a long story. A bill that extended funding for the FAA and for highway and transit projects bogged down unexpectedly this week when Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) objected to…
