(CNN) -- The debate in Congress this week about whether to pay for extending the payroll tax cut by imposing a new tax on millionaires will have nothing to do with solving our nation's economic challenges and everything to do with election-year politics. Senate Democratic leaders have already signaled they will use the debate as a purely partisan exercise designed to embarrass Republicans into opposing tax cuts for the poor while defending tax cuts for the rich. I intend to offer an alternative. Instead of punishing the rich with higher taxes, I will give Congress the option of helping pay for extending the payroll tax cut by ending welfare to the wealthy.
@highlight
Tom Coburn: It's not necessary to raise taxes on the rich to pay for payroll tax cut
@highlight
Instead, he says, end the annual $30 billion in tax break handouts to the rich and famous
@highlight
Coburn: They get deductions for second homes, yachts, gambling losses, child care
@highlight
Earmarks, deductions for millionaires amount to a tax hike on everyone else, he says
Congress
Congress
Even though the super committee failed to reach an agreement on broad deficit reduction, there is no reason why the other super committee -- @placeholder -- should drag its feet.