Norquist, Coburn Split over Tax Hike Idea

Historically Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., have been in lockstep over opposition to higher taxes. But now they are diverging a bit, Politico reports.

Norquist remains adamant that no tax hikes should be implemented to cut the budget deficit.

But Coburn says the $14 trillion debt creates “a matter of national survival,” and he doesn’t preclude the idea. “I don’t have a bottom line. I’m open to solving our very acute problems,” Coburn said Tuesday, when asked whether he would consider raising taxes.

His fellow Republicans in bipartisan budget talks agree -- Sens. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Mike Crapo of Idaho. “Nobody wants to raise taxes,” Chambliss said. “But … the discussion needs to be there.”

Norquist stands his ground. “You can’t do it with tax increases,” he says. “The only time the deficit comes down is when you refuse to raise taxes and you rein in spending.”