Tom Coburn Backs Tax Increases on the Rich

Sen. Tom Coburn splits from the Republican caucus on the fiscal cliff negotiations. Coburn told MSNBC that he supports tax increases on the rich.

"I know we have to raise revenue," the senator from Oklahoma told MSNBC. "I don't really care which way we do it. Actually, I would rather see rates go up than do it the other way, because it gaves us a greater chance to reform the tax code and broaden the base in the future."

Coburn has been the most grown-up of Senate Republicans on deficit reduction. Touching the Department of Defense budget has been taboo for conservatives. Coburn published a report detailing waste in military spending. One DoD item was "The 100-Year Starship Project." A conference was held asking "Did Jesus die for Klingons, too?" Coburn is wise enough to know money is better spent elsewhere.