Senate Set to Vote on Unemployment Extension
The Senate returned to session this afternoon with a vote pending on whether to move a bill to extend unemployment benefits for those who have exhausted them. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, held up the bill two weeks ago, with the support of Republican leaders, and he argued today that lawmakers should find a way to pay for the benefits rather than just adding them directly to the deficit.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said Republicans were using unemployment benefits to take a stand on fiscal responsibility and questioned why they didn’t take that same stand on funding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Medicare prescription drug program and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.…
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Boren wants to talk to Obama about natural gas
U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, the Muskogee Democrat who is the co-leader of a special congressional group that promotes natural gas, released a letter today that he and a Pennsylvania Republican sent to President Barack Obama.
The letter, written with Rep. Tim Murphy, whose state is cashing in on a natural gas boom, invites Obama to meet with the Natural Gas Caucus.
Despite his attention to developing clean energy, Obama has given short shrift to natural gas, according to those in the industry.…
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J.C. Watts on CNN, FOX Today
For those taking Sen. Tom Coburn’s advice to get a more balanced view:
Former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts is scheduled to appear on both CNN and FOX News today. Watts, a Republican, is at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans. His CNN appearance is set for 3:40 p.m. Oklahoma time today and his FOX appearance will occur sometime after 8 p.m. Oklahoma time.…
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Coburn Comment on Stevens’ Retirement
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, made this comment today on the retirement of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Coburn sits on the Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings on the nominee chosen by President Barack Obama to replace Stevens.
“I hope President Obama’s pick will unite rather than divide the country. In my view, the nominee should have a demonstrated record of strictly interpreting the Constitution without ideological bias. I would also urge my colleagues to give the committee ample time to review the nominee.…
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House strengthens ban on texting while driving
House members have revived efforts to ban texting while driving. As reported Thursday by the Capitol Bureau’s Micheal McNutt, Rep. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa, put language into a Senate bill that would prohibit a person from driving and using an electronic device to write, send or read a text.
They could be fined up to $1,000, if ticketed under this version of the bill.
The new language to Senate Bill 1908 is much harsher than the Senate version of the bill.…
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Remember the Hug
Picture credit: Getty Images
To those people incredulous about Sen. Tom Coburn’s efforts this week to depersonalize the anger toward Washington, remember the embrace Coburn shared with President Barack Obama after the president addressed Congress in early 2009.
And remember that Coburn, R-Muskogee, has fought on the Senate floor for hours at a time to block Obama’s agenda. During the health care debate in the Senate in December, it seemed like Coburn never left the floor. Point being: Coburn’s not known up here for attacking people.…
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El Reno considering ban on aerosol containers to minors
At a later date, El Reno City Council members will take another look at a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited individuals younger than 18 from possessing aerosol spray containers.
City staff on Tuesday requested the item be tabled so they can have more time to review the proposal to make sure it’ll be effective, Deputy City Clerk Lindsey Grigg said.
The proposed ordinance would have prohibited individuals younger than 18 from purchasing aerosol containers or possessing them on private or public property unless they are accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, employer, teacher or property owner.…
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Inhofe Calls Obama Naive on Nuclear Weapons Policy
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, on the eve of President Barack Obama’s signing of a new nuclear treaty with Russia, said he disapproved of the administration’s Nuclear Posture Report. Though some arms control advocates say Obama’s plan doesn’t go far enough, Inhofe thinks it goes too far.
Here is Inhofe’s statement:
“Like many liberals before, this approach naively counts on the rest of the world to join hands and unilaterally disarm
“In order to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent, we must have safe, secure, and reliable warheads.…
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Calvey jumps into national health care fracas
Republican congressional candidate Kevin Calvey is announcing today he and others are filing a lawsuit to block the national health care bill.
Calvey, an attorney, and several others, including his wife and Oklahoma County District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan, are filing a lawsuit in Oklahoma City federal court against President Barack Obama and others in his administration.
Calvey, a contender in the 5th Congressional District race, will talk about his suit today at the state Capitol.
His lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the health care law, which Obama signed into law late last month.…
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More from nuggets from Coburn….
Since comments made by U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, at a town hall meeting last week are being widely debated and discussed, I thought I’d a little more to the blogsphere.
Coburn spoke to folks in Oklahoma City last week, and he was frank…and appeared very centrist. He chided people who booed U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and urged audience members to think for themselves.
He called President Obama, by his first name saying that he and “Barack” are great friends.…
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