A source with knowledge of the negotiations says Coburn ultimately broke ranks after members of the

[TomCADem]

Source: TPM

A source with knowledge of the negotiations says Coburn ultimately broke ranks after members of the group rejected his proposal to introduce a global cap on Medicare spending that would have cut $150 billion from current beneficiaries.

"The issue we have now is, over the last couple weeks Coburn has been slow walking this and it's become clear that he's not been negotiating in good faith," the source said. "He came yesterday with demands that we make immmedate and deep cuts to current Medicare beneficiaries."

Coburn did not attend the group's Tuesday afternoon meeting, and Hart's statement suggests he won't make an appearance Wednesday either. Hart did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Coburn's Medicare proposal.

This is the latest blow to the group's efforts, and by far the most serious. Coburn is one of the Senate's most conservative members, and one of the few Republicans whose commitment to small government is fairly well matched by his voting record. Yet, for the past several weeks, Coburn has put his reputation in conservative circles on the line by mixing it up publicly with the influential anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist over whether a long-term deficit reduction plan should include higher revenues.


Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/source-cobur...

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Again, will there be any blowback against Republicans for trying to gut Medicare right now?!?!?!?

Republicans generated opposition to Health Care Reform based on the lie that it guts Medicare. What about the truth that Republicans are trying to gut Medicare in order to pass on the savings to the rich and oil companies!!!