More from Coburn’s office:

This morning, the office of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens informed us that Senator Stevens had lifted his hold on S. 2590, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. This legislation, which we authored with U.S. Senator Barack Obama, will create a Google-like search engine to track government spending. This legislation has broad bipartisan support inside Congress and among the public. Thirty-six Senators have cosponsored the bill and more than 100 organizations ranging from Greenpeace to Focus on the Family have strongly endorsed this legislation.
Although he skipped two hearings held on the bill, Senator Stevens requested a cost-benefit analysis of our bill which we provided to his staff last week. Only Senator Stevens can explain to taxpayers why he has reversed his position and reinstated his hold. Dr. Coburn believes the American people have a right to know how their tax-dollars are spent and looks forward to debating this issue on the floor of the United States Senate.
Today we were also disappointed to learn that at least one Democratic Senator has placed a hold on S. 2590. Last week, Senator Byrd admitted to placing a hold but said he lifted it. If a Democrat does have a hold they misled the blogger community who had ruled out every Democrat except for Byrd. Every Democrat is on the record publicly denying that they have a hold on S. 2590. http://porkbusters.org/secrethold.php
A Democratic hold is also surprising in light of Howard Dean’s letter that includes a petition asking Senator Stevens to lift his hold. http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/08/what_is_he_hidi.php
Finally, we find it unusual that Senator Stevens blocked passage of S. 2590 to acquire a “cost-benefit analysis” when he allowed 8 other bills to pass by unanimous consent on the same night which cost taxpayers $1.8 billion.
NUMEROUS BILLS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BEFORE RECESS
Although anonymous holds were placed on S.2590 to prevent its passage, 8 other bills passed unanimously on the same night
Sen. Stevens’ spokesperson stated that Sen. Stevens placed a hold on S.2590 because of cost concerns.
FACT: Eight different bills passed unanimously on the same night S.2590 was “hotlined.” According to the Congressional Budget Office, the combined additional cost of those bills over the next five years will be $1.8 billion.
FACT: Sen. Stevens allowed eight bills, costing a total of $1.8 billion over the next five years, to pass unanimously on the same night on which he placed a hold on S.2590.
FACT: As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee during the 109th Congress, Sen. Stevens has overseen passage of 40 separate pieces of legislation that will cumulatively increase federal spending by at least $89 billion over the next five years according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. Bills Passed Right Before August Recess Cost $1.8 Billion(Passed unanimously on night before recess; cost in millions of dollars)Bill NumberCommittee Passage?Amended On Floor?Five-Year CostS.843YesYes$300S.1899YesYes$374S.2068YesNo$0S.2694YesNo$1,122S.3534NoYes–S.3836NoNo–H.R.3858YesYes$0H.R.3508YesNo$0TOTAL––$1,796

And the Majority Leader is blogging again.