The Oklahoman: What others said in reaction to U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn's retirement to private life in Oklahoma
The Oklahoman
State and federal officials gave their thoughts on the retirement of U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn:
U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City:
“Dr. Tom Coburn has been the leading voice in Washington for fiscal responsibility since the first day he stepped onto the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. His retirement from the Senate will leave a huge void. Dr. Coburn has been a consistent and articulate voice for the American taxpayer and the next generation. No one was more effective fighting for responsible spending and against government waste in both the House and Senate. In the three years I have served in the House, I looked to Dr. Coburn as the epitome of a citizen legislator. He kept his eye on the ball and worked relentlessly to bring sanity to government fiscal policy. His leadership and wise counsel will be missed. I join Oklahomans across the state in thanking Dr. Coburn for his sacrificial years of public service, and I will pray that he and Carolyn enjoy many years together in the next chapter of their lives.”
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa:
“I regret to say that there are times in our service together when we have not been in agreement on specific issues and I think we have a characteristic in common. I think we’re both kind of bull-headed and that has created some temporary hard feelings, but there’s one thing that overshadows that. You know Jesus has a family and his family has a lot of people in it. Some are here in this room. Tom Coburn and I are brothers. ... I want my junior senator to know that I sincerely love him and I’m going to be hurting with him in the troubles that he has right now and might have in the future and will sorely miss him in this body.”
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin:
“Senator Coburn is one of the most influential voices in American politics today and will most certainly be missed in Congress. He has been a relentless advocate for responsible spending and has worked endlessly on ways to reduce our country’s deficit and to warn policymakers and citizens of its increasing threat to our economy. He has been a tough fiscal conservative during his years in Congress, and he will be remembered as a vigilant watchdog for all of America’s taxpayers. Tom Coburn is a true hero to the American taxpayer. No one has done more to stop wasteful spending in Washington than he has.”
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.:
“I’m going to miss a lot my colleague from Oklahoma. I’ve always admired his strength of convictions and the courage and candor with which he expresses them day after day. The No. 1 thing people should do in Congress, Tom once said, is stay true to their heart. No one in the history of this institution has ever followed that injunction more faithfully than Tom Coburn has. Tom Coburn has an unshakeable faith in the goodness of America and he has worked diligently with others when he could and alone if necessary to make sure government respects the people we serve, respects their hopes and aspirations, their concerns and sacrifices.”
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore:
“During his 16-year congressional career, Tom Coburn established himself as an Oklahoma original — conservative in his thinking, populist in his rhetoric and independent in his operating style. Coburn raised awareness of the dangers of overspending and inadequately funded entitlement programs. And he was relentlessly critical of both the voters and those in the political elite who were unwilling to make the hard choices required to confront America's deficit and long-term debt.”
Online:The Oklahoman