Coburn dismisses reports he could get position in a Bush administration

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Outgoing U.S. Rep. Tom Coburn dismissed published reports that he could be a possible Health and Human Services secretary or surgeon general in a George W. Bush administration.

"I think it is a float," Coburn told the Tulsa World's Washington bureau on Monday. "I don't think it is anything."

Coburn's name has shown up in several reports, including the Kaiser Daily News Reports, the Tulsa World reported.

Coburn, R-Okla., did not completely rule out the possibility, but said such a development would be unexpected, the World reported.

"It is not likely a Bush administration would want someone like me," he said. "I see things the way I think they ought to be, and I go for it."

Coburn said his approach "does not characterize the situation"

Bush will face if he gets past the current election controversy in Florida and takes office next month.

The close presidential election and a divided Congress means either Bush or Vice President Al Gore will face a tough time getting his new administration in place and winning support for his agenda, Coburn said.

Coburn is leaving Congress in January to honor a pledge to serve only six years.

The Muskogee physician said he believes he could offer a number of solutions to the nation's health issues, but they would require strong backing from the administration.

Coburn notes that he has opposed abortion rights. But while Bush also opposes a woman's right to an abortion, the Texas governor steered his campaign away from such controversial topics.

Coburn also said he was not a Bush supporter, but endorsed long-shot Republican presidential hopeful Alan Keyes.

He said Keyes had a better grasp of the issues.