Weekly Columns

Even before passage of his healthcare law, President Obama promised numerous times, “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it.” But as millions of Americans have realized since the roll-out of Obamacare and its failed website, that is far from the truth. Now we’re watching the president back up and try to find cover for misleading the country and selling something that never existed as it was presented.

Political opinions aside, it is clear that our economy is broken and that our debt is growing at an alarming rate. In fact, the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently called our situation “unsustainable indefinitely.” The entire nation was reminded and awakened to this grave reality over the last several weeks—first with the lapse in appropriated funds that caused shutdown and second with the debt ceiling deadline that, without action, would have resulted in default.

As described, established and intended in the United States Constitution, our nation’s government is broken into three separate branches. Like the people that make up our country, each branch provides a unique perspective and represents differing points of view. When one party controls both chambers of Congress and the White House, America tends to look more unified and productive. But even in divided government, we can find ways to function, achieve common ground and make all voices heard and considered.

The last several weeks have been difficult for our country and caused many to question not only our economic future, but the very ability of our federal government to perform its most basic functions. We can play the blame game all day long, but at the end of the day, the American people elected lawmakers and the president to govern, and they depend on us to work together and find common ground, regardless of party affiliation.

In order to balance a household budget, living within your means is key. Hardworking American families understand this reality and plan budgets that anticipate paying for basic needs like housing, utilities, clothing and food and for extras like eating out, going to the movies or taking a trip. Setting spending limits that don’t exceed income is how millions of Americans manage their budgets.

It’s not surprising or uncommon when people disagree. We see differing points of view in every aspect of our lives, but one of the great things about being American is the fact that we’re all entitled to have an opinion and state it loudly if we choose. From birth onward, every individual finds the belief system that makes the most sense and through that, values are shaped and opinions defined. So we learn to expect disagreement as part of life, and in so doing, we also realize the necessity of discussion, negotiation and compromise. That’s how we get along.

Norman Transcript - Congressman Tom Cole

As I explained in numerous town hall meetings back in August, government shutdown is harmful to hard-working Americans, and using it as a strategy to repeal Obamacare is sure to fail, especially when its namesake is in the White House.

To be clear, I oppose Obamacare. I voted against it and, since passage, I have voted 41 times to either repeal it fully or partially. Seven of these bills have actually become law, modifying the Affordable Care Act and saving taxpayers $62 billion.

Just four months ago, Oklahomans proved their resilience by living through back-to-back tornadoes that claimed lives, destroyed entire neighborhoods and shook communities. While our state has come to expect the threat of tornadoes each year, it doesn’t make it any easier when it happens. Fortunately, with the support of friends across our state and nation, we have persevered and lost no time in picking up the pieces and rebuilding our communities.