Oklahoma’s U.S. House members explain ‘no’ votes

Oklahoman ^ | March 22, 2010 | Chris Casteel

[PhiKapMom]

Chris Casteel

WASHINGTON — All five of Oklahoma’s U.S. House members voted against the health care bill.

03/22/2010

WASHINGTON — Ending a tense week of vote-counting, protests outside the Capitol and last-minute negotiations on abortion, House Democrats on Sunday... →Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore: "This deeply flawed legislation raises taxes, expands government control and kills job creation, but it fails to cut health care costs or meaningfully reform the insurance system. ... This $1.2 trillion monstrosity increases taxes by $569 billion and cuts Medicare by $523 billion.”

→Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City: "I am not done fighting to protect Oklahoma’s families and small businesses from this damaging policy change that will result in higher taxes, higher health care premiums, federal mandates on individuals, explosive deficit spending and crushing unfunded mandates on state budgets. I specifically question whether the congressional action taken today will pass constitutional muster.”

→Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa: "This is a sad day in the history of the United States Congress. The American people were clear that they did not want this government takeover of our healthcare system, yet Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and her liberal allies in Congress didn’t seem to care. They twisted arms and cut backroom deals until they had the votes to pass it anyways.”

→Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee: "From my first town hall in August of 2009, which drew audiences exceeding 1,000, to the constant phone calls, letters, faxes, and e-mails to my Washington and Oklahoma offices, the desire for me to oppose this health care proposal has been very clear. For the last 18 months I have said repeatedly that the focus of Congress should be on job creation and getting our economy moving again, not on creating a brand new entitlement program that we simply cannot afford. ”

→Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne: "This bill is extremely unpopular with the American people, who have strongly voiced their opposition to this legislation over the last year. I am dismayed by the audacity of the Democratic leadership and their attempt to bypass the American people and subvert the will of the majority. Change is needed within our health care system. We can all agree on that. But this bill is simply not the answer. In an effort to pass a health care bill — any bill — this Congress has lost its way.”

[PhiKapMom]

Even our lone Democrat, Dan Boren, has been against this since last summer. He also didn't formally endorse Obama and in fact, recently said that Obama would lose his district more now then in Nov 2008. I think it is safe to say after this House action that Obama would get much less then 34% of the vote in OK if the election were held today. He has only gone down since taking office.

[PhiKapMom]

Didn’t take long for our Reps on the record. Bet Boren is sweating this election now.

[2Jedismom]

You can't sleep either?

I'm meeting with Coburn this weekend...part of a homeschool meet and greet to get ready to help with the campaign.

Oklahoma Ping!

If you want on
or off this list
Freepmail me.

[arista]

I commend Boren for voting against the bill. However, the most important vote he casts each term is his first, for Pelosi as majority leader. That alone is reason enough to defeat him. As long as Pelosi is majority leader, and arch-liberals control the committees, they control the agenda, and the bill will never be repealed regardless of Boren’s personal wishes.

[PhiKapMom]

I am with you — couldn’t sleep. Have you heard of anyone opposing Dr. Tom? Last I talked to his staff no one had announced as yet.

There is a video at the link of this article that makes me wonder why Dan Boren is still a Democrat. He did not like the process at all out of the Democrats. It was amazing to hear his response.

[PhiKapMom]

I agree 100% — every last Dem voted for Pelosi so that makes them a target including Dan Boren. Been hearing rumors since last fall that he was going to switch but I believe that when I see it although it makes you wonder why he stays a Democrat since he didn’t even endorse ZERO.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[dirtboy]

Last I talked to his staff no one had announced as yet.

I heard the Dems are dangling millions for anyone who will run against him.

[OKSooner]

So what happens now?

The next thing they will do is legalize about 20 million illegals as voters, with Grahamnesty's help, plus all the fraud from ACORN, SEIU et al.

Permanent Democrat majority, permanent welfare state. Permanent Obama for that matter.

I don't understand the Republican position that "They'll overreach, and then we'll make them pay for it at the polls."

The best hope I see for doing anything about this is all those State's AG's who are going to sue on the grounds of the 10th amendment, our own AG certainly NOT among them.

[dirtboy]

Sebelius is now on Fox and Friends lying through her teeth. Says the bill will lower costs, and that the Senate GOP didn’t want to be part of the process. And this will help small business. Oh, and some of the highest paid Americans will be paying a little more.

[dirtboy]

all those State's AG's who are going to sue on the grounds of the 10th amendment,

Some twit was on TV saying the Supremecy Clause trumps those state suits. I guess she's never heard of the 10th.

[Osage Orange]

Then Boren needs to switch parties......

Just the fact that he's a Democrat...I'm sending money to any Republican opponent of his.

That's just the way it is.........

[Osage Orange]

In Nov...maybe we can change the landscape here in OK a bit.

[OKSooner]

That would be something positive, I suppose. Cool tagline.

[MizSterious]

Like Stupak, I think Boren would have voted for the bill if his vote was needed. I don’t think there’s any such thing as a pro-life Democrat. It’s another myth like the the Democrat “moderates” and the “Blue Dogs.” Whatever they call themselves, they’ll vote with the rest of the weasels.

[MizSterious]

Opposing Dr. Tom—not sure WHO is opposing him, but he’s got some big-time enemies in OKC at least. Did you catch the big campaign against him on OKC’s CBS affiliate, channel 9, in the past couple of weeks? They did their best to portray him as both evil and cruel, and (according to Amy McCree and others) doesn’t care if Ugandan children are sold into slavery. (By other Ugandans, I might add.) I haven’t watched CBS locally since.

[Ro_Thunder]

Permanent Democrat majority, permanent welfare state. Permanent Obama for that matter.

There can not be a permanent welfare state. Once us jobholders and income producers go bankrupt the state has nothing left to spend, and no one is going to loan the US Government more money. So, we’ll all be bankrupt!

I stared into the abyss, and it stared back.

For the first time in my life, I am truly ashamed of my country.

[Star Traveler]

It doesn't look like he's got anything to worry about to me... :-)

Election history

November 4, 2008, Representative of Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election results

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Dan Boren	Democratic Party	173,757	70.47%
	Raymond Wickson	Republican Party	72,815	29.53%
Source: 2008 Election Results

November 7, 2006, Representative of Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election results

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Dan Boren	Democratic Party	122,347	72.74%
	Patrick K. Miller	Republican Party	45,861	27.26%
Source: 2006 Election Results

November 2, 2004, Representative of Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election results

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Dan Boren	Democratic Party	179,579	65.89%
	Wayland Smalley	Republican Party	92,963	34.11%
Source: 2004 Election Results

[PhiKapMom]

I detest our local news right now — first got mad at their Sports Blitz and now I won’t watch them at all. Dr. Tom has donated hours in Africa for patients. They keep this up and they won’t be the #1 station. Very seldom watch the local news. I would rather go on the website of the Oklahoman.

[PhiKapMom]

That means Soros is danging like he did for Rice. Wonder if they find anyone that stupid?