Sen. Tom Coburn used parliamentary tactics Thursday to try to trip up Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) plans to pass a tax and unemployment extension bill this week.

The Oklahoma Republican, using a procedure known as a clay pigeon, split his pending amendment to fully pay for the extenders bill into 20 separate pieces, which means that in theory the chamber could be forced to vote 20 times on various aspects of his proposal.

Coburn has used similar tactics in the past, but he and Reid have usually been able to negotiate an agreement to pare down the number of amendments the chamber ultimately votes on.

In a floor statement, Coburn argued that continued deficit spending is not appropriate and that Congress should fully fund the extenders package.

“Borrowing money that we don’t have to spend on things that we don’t absolutely need is not the answer to solve the problems with our economy. The answer is for us to live within our means, create a stable environment where business will invest and can plan based on what is coming next from Congress,” he said.