Sen. Jim Inhofe Comes Out Against Chuck Hagel Nomination for Defense
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced Tuesday evening that he would not support former Sen. Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense.
In a news release, Inhofe said he told Hagel Tuesday during a “cordial” meeting that they were too philosophically opposed.
“Chuck Hagel is a good person, and it was a pleasure to serve with him in the United States Senate. I am so very appreciative of the sacrifices he and his brother made to serve this country during the Vietnam War.…
Read the rest of Sen. Jim Inhofe Comes Out Against Chuck Hagel Nomination for Defense
Reps. Tom Cole, Markwayne Mullin Oppose Executive Action on Gun Control
Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Westville, said Thursday that it would be “absurd” for President Barack Obama to use executive orders to limit gun ownership. Mullin was responding to a statement made Wednesday by Vice President Joe Biden that the “president is going to act” on gun control, possibly using executive orders.
Mullin said, “What the President and the Executive branch are trying to do on gun control is absurd. The President’s use of executive orders to limit Second Amendment rights is only a tactic to bypass Congress and force untested laws onto the American people.…
Read the rest of Reps. Tom Cole, Markwayne Mullin Oppose Executive Action on Gun Control
Sen. Jim Inhofe Comments on Nominations of Hagel, Brennan
Sen. Jim Inhofe, the new ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined on Monday to express approval or disapproval of Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defense. The committee will hold confirmation hearings on Hagel.
Regarding Hagel’s nomination Inhofe, R-Tulsa, said:
“I have worked with Secretary (Leon) Panetta for many years, and during his tenure as Secretary of Defense, he has done an excellent job outlining the devastating impact defense budget cuts will have on our nation’s military. In the months and years ahead, the Defense Department will be confronted with significant challenges from budget issues to Afghanistan policy.…
Read the rest of Sen. Jim Inhofe Comments on Nominations of Hagel, Brennan
Robert E. Bacharach Renominated for Federal Appeals Court
Robert E. Bacharach, an Oklahoma City magistrate judge whose nomination for a federal appeals court was blocked by Republicans in the last six months of 2012, was renominated for the post on Thursday by President Barack Obama.
Bacharach had strong bipartisan support for his nomination to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Both of Oklahoma’s Republican senators endorsed him. But Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said “inside politics” doomed his nomination in the presidential election year. Republicans refused to allow a vote on him in the months before the presidential election and the weeks after the election.…
Read the rest of Robert E. Bacharach Renominated for Federal Appeals Court
New Republican Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa Refuses to Back Boehner for Speaker
Rep. Jim Bridenstine, a Tulsa Republican sworn in for his first term on Thursday, refused to vote for House Speaker John Boehner. He voted for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor instead.
Bridenstine said in an interview before the vote that he would have trouble voting for Boehner, in large part because of the debt ceiling deal struck in 2011.
“The challenge is no one is running against (Boehner)” for speaker, Bridenstine told the Oklahoman. “So what does a guy like me do?”
What he did was vote for the second ranking Republican in the House _ Cantor, of Virginia _ who has split with Boehner on some issues, including this week’s fiscal cliff deal.…
Read the rest of New Republican Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa Refuses to Back Boehner for Speaker
Rep. Tom Cole Named to Powerful House Rules Committee
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, has been named to House Rules Committee, which determines the framework of debate for major pieces of legislation. The Republican members are picked by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. The selection of Cole comes after the Oklahoma lawmaker became a prominent voice in the fiscal cliff debate last month, arguing that Republicans shouldn’t hold 98 percent of taxpayers “hostage” to automatic tax increases to protect tax cuts for the wealthiest.
Cole has served on the committee before.…
Read the rest of Rep. Tom Cole Named to Powerful House Rules Committee
Rep. James Lankford Only Oklahoman Voting Against Fiscal Cliff Deal
Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, was the only member of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation who voted against the fiscal cliff deal on Tuesday. Both of Oklahoma’s senators supported it, and four of the five House members voted aye late Tuesday night.
Among the four House members supporting it were outgoing Reps. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, and John Sullivan, R-Tulsa. Both of those members will be leaving the House on Thursday, when their replacements will be sworn in.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, said Wednesday, “This agreement is far from perfect, but preventing the largest tax increase in history and making tax cuts permanent for 98 percent of taxpayers is a major victory for American workers and for the economy.…
Read the rest of Rep. James Lankford Only Oklahoman Voting Against Fiscal Cliff Deal
Rep-elect Markwayne Mullin Announces Some Staff Hires
Markwayne Mullin, a Republican who will be sworn in next month as the new House member for Oklahoma’s 2nd District, announced some of his staff on Tuesday. Karl Ahlgren, former chief of staff to Tom Coburn when Coburn served in the House, will leave his political consulting firm to be Mullin’s top aide. Mullin is retaining some of the Oklahoma “field reps” that have worked the 2nd District for years helping constituents through the maze of federal bureaucracies.
Mullin was elected to replace retiring Rep.…
Read the rest of Rep-elect Markwayne Mullin Announces Some Staff Hires
Sen. Jim Inhofe Comments on the Passing of Sen. Daniel Inouye
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, released the following statement on Monday’s death of Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii:
“Today America lost a hero; Hawaii lost a faithful and loving Senator; and I lost a friend with the passing of Senator Daniel Inouye.
“As veterans and colleagues, we have shared a deep appreciation for our nation’s military as well as for aviation. I never made a request of Sen. Inouye that was not granted, as he was always one to work towards a bipartisan consensus for the good of the country.…
Read the rest of Sen. Jim Inhofe Comments on the Passing of Sen. Daniel Inouye
Republican Jim Bridenstine Gets on House Armed Services Committee
Newly elected Jim Bridenstine, of Tulsa, who defeated incumbent Rep. John Sullivan in the Republican Primary in June, has secured a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. The Navy Reserve pilot was one of six new Republicans announced by the committee chairman on Wednesday.
Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, a California Republican who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said:
“The Armed Services Committee has long benefited from a bi-partisan roster of insightful, dedicated and energetic members. The 113th Congress will be no exception.…
Read the rest of Republican Jim Bridenstine Gets on House Armed Services Committee
