If you’re a press secretary for Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Ok.), today’s a good day. Both the Post and the New York Times are running profiles on the senator, affably known as “Dr. No,” for his persistent opposition to bills that fund government programs he considers wasteful. Coburn has held up some 80 bills during his tenure, and it’s gotten so bad that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) felt compelled to introduce legislation last week that would fund 35 of the programs Coburn has successfully stalled, to the tune of $10 billion. The legislation, officially titled the Advancing America’s Priorities Act, is being called the “Tomnibus” bill.

Of course, we’re all too familiar with Coburn and his stingy ways. Earlier this year he blocked legislation that would give Metro $1.5 billion for capital improvements, arguing that the transit agency should just raise fares instead. He piled on a month later with an op-ed in the Washington Times in which he argued that federal funds shouldn’t be used for a transit agency as inefficient as Metro. And who can forget how he also claimed that since Oklahomans are too poor to visit Washington, their tax dollars shouldn’t help fund the system?

Reid’s omnibus spending bill includes the $1.5 billion for Metro. Of course, even with the legislative maneuvering Reid has planned, he still needs to get the majority of Republicans on board and hope nothing else gets in the way. According to the Post:

For Reid to get around Coburn’s hold, he would need to file a motion to proceed to the bill; if at least 60 senators vote for that motion, it would take another two days of debate before Reid could call another vote on a motion to close off debate, called cloture. If at least 60 senators support that, a final vote on the bill is scheduled, but only after another 30 hours of floor debate.

On top of that, the District, Maryland and Virginia would have to all identify dedicated sources of funding for Metro before they could access the federal funds. Hopefully $1.5 billion will serve as a good motivator.