Politics | Congress Democrats Out to Thwart Senate's 'Dr. No' Big bill combines measures all blocked by prickly Coburn By Kevin Spak Posted Jul 28, 2008 8:03 AM CDT Copied Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., left, stumps for Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at a campaign event in Spartanburg, S.C., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) While the Senate has long been in the business of passing catchall “omnibus” legislation, now Democrats are trying out the Tomnibus, a bill loaded with measures that have all been blocked by one man: Tom Coburn, alias Dr. No. The Oklahoma Republican wields Senate procedure like a deathray—he is single-handedly holding up almost 80 bills, demanding more debate. The Senate relies on unanimous consent to move most bills along. Coburn thwarts that consent, demanding spending cuts before new spending is approved. Democrats hope the bipartisan measures in the Tomnibus will embarrass him or convince Republicans to rein him in, but Dr. No isn’t easily cowed. “I am not a go-along, get-along guy,” says Coburn. “I take my oath seriously.” Read These Next The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. See the best BBQ cities in the US. Iraq's national game of deception brings out the best bluffers. Report an error