Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, released the following statement this afternoon on the Reid omnibus monster bill:

“Today’s action in the Senate shows that the greatest threat to change is a Congress that is addicted to power, pork and the politics of the past.  In a time of economic turmoil, the United States Senate has bigger fish to fry than a pork-laden omnibus lands bill that puts parochial projects that spend $1 billion to rescue 500 salmon in California ahead of our serious economic challenges.  We could face an historic $1.8 trillion deficit next year.  Spending money we don’t have on many projects we don’t need is unconscionable,” Dr. Coburn said, adding that it is reckless for Congress to spend $10 billion on new parks and other areas when the National Park Service currently has a $9.6 billion maintenance backlog.