Sen. Tom Coburn quits ‘gang of six’
Reporting from Washington — Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said Tuesday he was taking a break from the “gang of six†senators that has been trying to develop bipartisan deficit reduction legislation after talks hit an impasse.
Losing the conservative Oklahoma Republican is a blow to the bipartisan effort that many in Washington had hoped would produce a strategy that could bring both parties to the table to reduce the nation’s rising debt.
“[Coburn] is disappointed the group has not been able to bridge the gap between what needs to happen and what senators will support,†said a statement from the senator’s spokesman. “He has decided to take a break from the talks.â€
The group has been meeting behind closed doors all year to broker the divide, aiming to reach $4 trillion in deficit reductions through tax and spending changes modeled after the recommendations of President Obama’s bipartisan fiscal commission.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
