Why is Senator Coburn blocking the bill?

We didn’t come up with the “Dr. No” nickname; it’s Senator Coburn’s nickname in the Senate because he blocks dozens and dozens of bills every year (see this Wall Street Journal article for more background). When Senator Coburn was elected in 2004, he made a promise to do everything he could to reduce the size of the American government's budget and deficit. Therefore, he blocks all bills that don’t meet his stringent criteria (see his criteria in this PDF), even when those bills are landmark efforts to help stop Joseph Kony’s abductions of children and end Africa’s longest running war.

His objection to the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act is that it authorizes $40 million in U.S. funds to be used over the next three years in support of relief efforts and the rebuilding of northern Uganda. Senator Coburn has said he will only allow the bill to pass if the bill is amended to specify where exactly the money should be taken from.

As open as we are to constructive compromises on the bill, meeting Senator Coburn's criteria simply isn't that easy. First, specificying where the money comes from (called an "offset") would kill the bill. Other Senators would object for a number of reasons to amending the bill in such a way. Second, the bill simply “authorizes” the money. The $40 million doesn't actually get "appropriated" until it goes through the formal budget process. As such, this bill does not add a dime to the U.S. government budget or deficit. In fact, in all likelihood, when the Appropriations Committee develops the actual budget, members of the committee would simply direct existing funds to fill the purposes outlined in the bill. That's why all 99 other Senators have no problem with the bill.

Intentionally or not, Senator Coburn's decision to hold this bill communicates that proving a point about government spending is more important than this historic opportunity to help achieve peace and protect thousands of innocent lives.  Ultimately, Senator Coburn will not budge or strike a compromise unless he hears from an overwhelming number of Oklahomans and concerned Americans who feel otherwise.