Sen. Rob Standridge issues statement on passing of friend and former U.S. Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn

State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, issued the following statement Saturday on the passing of former U.S. Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn.  Standridge wrote the introduction to Dr. Coburn’s book, “Smashing the DC Monopoly: Using Article V to Restore Freedom and Stop Runaway Government.”

“In 2011, I lost my father to prostate cancer, and now a few years later I lost a great friend and one of my greatest political heroes, Tom Coburn, to that same disease.

“Serving as a senator for the citizens of Oklahoma is a great honor, but nothing during my time has been as meaningful as my time working on political projects with Tom. I am proud I helped drag him into the fight for states’ rights with regards to reining in the federal government using the power of the U.S. Constitution, and the nation should be thankful he decided to jump in.

“Of course, as anyone who knows Coburn knows, he makes up his own mind. As I can count the times that I believe myself and others had influence on his thinking, it was his tenacity and convictions that made him the most courageous political leader of our times. 

“I spent years fighting in Oklahoma, along with Dr. Coburn and my great friend, Senator Josh Brecheen, for an Article V Convention of States in order to get D.C. under control. Coburn continued to lead that fight nationally up to the day he died, and when an Article V Convention happens, and I firmly believe it will, it will be because of Dr. Coburn’s tireless efforts in his final years that made it so.

“I will miss my friend Dr. Coburn greatly, but our nation will miss him in ways they don’t even realize. It is not often that heroes and warriors like Tom Coburn come along. We must appreciate them, we must encourage them, and we must always honor them, and if we are so lucky, give thanks to God that we got to know them.”

For more information, contact Sen. Rob Standridge at 405-521-5535 or email Rob.Standridge@oksenate.gov.