Inhofe Says Hearing on Oil Spill Premature
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, of Tulsa, the top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, said today that the panel shouldn’t have been holding a hearing on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico until the cause had been determined.
The EPW committee was one of two Senate panels to hear today from executives whose companies were involved with the rig. Here is Inhofe’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery at the hearing.
“Thank you, Madam Chairman. I first want to say that our prayers are with the families who lost loved ones in the tragic explosion in the Gulf.…
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Obama Talks to Governor Brad Henry About Tornadoes
Here is a statement from White House press secretary Robert Gibbs:
Statement by the Press Secretary on President Obama’s Call to Oklahoma Governor Henry
“This afternoon, following a briefing from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, President Obama called Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry. The President told Governor Henry that his thoughts and prayers were with the people of Oklahoma as they cope with the devastating damage caused by tornadoes and severe storms across the state, and that he wanted to make sure they were getting the support they need from the federal government.…
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Senate Seeks Audit of Federal Reserve
The U.S. Senate just passed an amendent 96-0 that would allow congressional auditors to look at the books of the Federal Reserve and disclose what private firms got aid after the financial meltdown in the fall of 2008. The amendment was authored by Sen. Bernard Sanders, an Independent from Vermont.…
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Coburn to Keep an Open Mind on Elena Kagan
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said today that he promised President Barack Obama he would keep an open mind about the president’s latest U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Solicitor General Elena Kagan.
“We’ll just what happens during the confirmation process,” Coburn said in an interview.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Coburn will be among the senators to question Kagan. He said he has not yet scheduled a personal visit with Kagan.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, has already come out against Kagan, saying in a statement that she had not been “properly vetted through a judicial career.” Kagan has never served as a judge.…
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Capitol rehash…
I’m assuming readers of this blog are busy, so here’s a review of last week in a few key words and links.
Tax Credits — Lawmakers talked about ending tax credits. Others talked about the success of some tax credits. Some lawmakers wanted to know what kind of bang for the buck Oklahoma is getting with these incentives. Others wondered what the tax credits are being used for.
Budget — Three weeks until the end of the Legislative session.…
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Coburn Written Questions to Kagan on Military Recruiters, Guns, Abortion
After Elena Kagan’s nomination hearing to be solicitor general, Sen. Tom Coburn sent some written follow-up questions to Kagan about her stance on military recruiters on college campuses and gun rights. Here are the questions sent by Coburn, R-Muskogee, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee:
Follow-up Questions of Senator Tom Coburn, M.D.
Hearing: “Nomination of Elena Kagan to be Solicitor General of the United States”
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
February 10, 2009
Solomon Amendment
President Obama has said, “the notion that young people…anywhere, in any university, aren’t
offered the choice, the option of participating in military service, I think is a mistake.” As
solicitor general, you are tasked with deciding whether and when to appeal if a lower court rules
against the government in any case.…
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Coburn Questioned Kagan About Lack of Experience
In February 2009, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, questioned Elena Kagan about her lack of judicial experience when she was before the Judiciary Committee on her nomination to be solicitor general. The transcript is below. On March 19, 2009 Coburn voted in the full Senate for Kagan’s nomination to be solicitor general. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, was one of 31 senators, all Republicans, who opposed her nomination.
Coburn is still on the Judiciary Committee, which will consider Kagan’s nomination to be a U.S.…
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Tom Cole helps launch task force to limit federal power
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, says the “alarming growth of of the federal government” is the reason he and other House conservatives launched a 10th Amendment task force to uphold constitutional principles limit federal power.
“It’s past time to restore the constitutional principles that protect state and individual rights from government overreach, and that’s exactly what this task force will work to do,” Cole said today.
Cole has introduced a bill that would give state officials special legal standing to challenge regulations stemming from federal laws.…
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Candidate drops out of race for State Supt. of Education
A candidate for State Superintendent of Education dropped out of the race. Check out the story here.
Capitol Reporter Michael McNutt reported on this race earlier this week.
In the race for state schools superintendent, Republican Janet Barresi of Edmond reported loaning her campaign $150,000 which helped give her nearly six times the amount of money on hand as her GOP opponent. Shawn Hime, superintendent of Enid Public Schools, announced his candidacy for the post in March. Barresi and Hime each reported raising about $31,000 during the first quarter.
…
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Post Story on Racism in Tea Party Quotes Tulsa Man
Tulsa man tells Washington Post he sees element of fear about an African-American president.…
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