Oklahoma senator Tom Coburn argued that the widespread panic over the effects of the sequester is overblown. “Give me a break,” he told Fox News’ Chris Wallace, arguing that there are ways to implement the required cuts that will not impact the American people. “What you hear is an outrage because nobody wants to cut spending,” Coburn concluded, “but not cutting spending is going to be disastrous for our country.”
The Obama administration, Democrats, and many Republicans have warned of consequences from military readiness to an increase in foodborne illnesses and vital education-assistance programs, among many others.
Coburn argued that, whatever the impact of reducing federal spending by 2.5 percent — the amount mandated by sequestration — the consequences of failing to rein in spending will be worse.