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VIDEO: Coburn Delivers Farewell Address To U.S. Senate Colleagues

Oklahoma's Tom Coburn delivered an emotional farewell address to his colleagues in the U.S. Senate immediately after Thursday’s vote on the defense authorization bill.

“I have some adamant opposition to some of the things that we’re doing, but nevertheless I will try to put into context my feelings and thoughts about the great privilege that has been granted to me by the people of Oklahoma,” Coburn said to open his remarks.

Coburn is a well-known deficit hawk and has long opposed federal spending and pet projects he says are unnecessary. During his remarks, he highlighted his commitment to America’s founding documents, and stressed its philosophies to his fellow lawmakers.

“Your whole goal is to protect the United States of America, its constitution, and its liberties,” Coburn said. “It’s not to provide benefits for your state.”

Earlier this year Coburn announced he would step down from his seat at the end of the current Congress with two years left on his term. He’ll be replaced by U.S. Rep. James Lankford.

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Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
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