Sen. Tom Coburn pulled out of the bipartisan “gang of six” Senators working on a $4 trillion package of deficit reductions Tuesday after reaching an impasse over cuts to entitlement programs.
“I’m not planning on participating at this time,” the Oklahoma Republican told reporters.
“You come a point in time where people can’t give or won’t,” he added.
Coburn said he would return to the talks if things change.
“It’s all been in good faith. ... I’ve had a great pleasure getting to know them all better, and my hope is we can bridge that, but right now I don’t see how we can,” he said.
Coburn said he didn’t think there was enough reform of entitlements.
“We have to do what’s best for this country regardless of who it costs or what, but it’s got to be balanced and I didn’t perceive where we were was balanced,” he said.
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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