Senator Tom Coburn plans fight to keep medical practice

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- US Senator Tom Coburn is continuing his fight to keep practicing medicine, despite a Senate policy that bans senators from working at certain professions.<br/><br/>Coburn's attorney

Sunday, May 1st 2005, 11:34 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- US Senator Tom Coburn is continuing his fight to keep practicing medicine, despite a Senate policy that bans senators from working at certain professions.

Coburn's attorney Steve Hart says he's learned a lot about the history of the rule that is forcing Coburn to close his medical practice in Muskogee. And he has learned that Coburn is the first doctor to challenge it.

Coburn is only the second doctor to serve in the Senate since the rule was passed by a special Senate committee in 1977.

The prospects for Coburn's challenge weren't clear last week. Coburn's hope to resolve the issue in April wasn't realized and he is five months from the September 30th deadline to stop practicing medicine.

In an interview last week, Coburn said Senate Rules Committee Chairman Trent Lott of Mississippi is willing to bring something before the committee to allow Coburn to continue practicing medicine.