Weekly Columns

Few Americans support Obamacare, and its continued existence is a burdensome reality that has inspired numerous Republican efforts to dismantle the law. Most recently, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution that keeps the government running but prohibits any funding for further implementation of Obamacare.

During the month of August, I had the opportunity to have conversations with hundreds of individuals across the Fourth District through town hall meetings, local business visits and other informal meetings. As we visited together at every meeting, there were several recurring questions and issues that came up, particularly those concerning the future of Obamacare, the National Security Agency, immigration reform and American military involvement in Syria.

Tulsa World - Congressman Tom Cole

After the recent chemical attack in Syria, the American people expressed their strong opposition to the military strike proposed by President Obama. Through phone calls, emails, letters and town hall meetings, my Oklahoma constituents made it abundantly clear to me that they were strongly and unequivocally opposed to any U.S. involvement in Syria's civil war.

The Syrian conflict is a violent, unfortunate situation, but American military intervention is not in our best interest. What we are watching unfold is a civil war, a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia and a religious war.

America should avoid being drawn into this conflict since the president’s recent proposal is a gesture, not a clear policy or military strategy, and it will certainly not change conditions on the ground. The United States has not been attacked and neither have our allies.

For the Obama Administration, scandals have become a sad but common reality. Throughout the series of scandals surrounding Fast and Furious, Benghazi, the IRS and Associated Press, the president’s behavior has become predictable and irresponsible. Scandal after scandal, the president has resorted to accusing others of wrongdoing, offering a late, empty apology or ignoring the situation entirely. For this president, taking responsibility for scandals or even acknowledging the presence of wrongdoing under his watch is rare indeed.

With each day, there is something to report about our economic situation. Unfortunately, the news is rarely promising, and we are constantly reminded that we still hold more than $17 trillion in debt. While there are several drivers of our debt, the introduction and enforcement of federal regulations has become one of the costliest to taxpayers and job creators, slowing our economic recovery.

In today’s society, there are numerous possibilities for receiving an education that prepares students for academic success and achievement. While the majority of elementary and secondary students in the United States attend public or private schools, the popularity of home schooling continues to grow and has become a widely accepted and respected alternative.

President Obama is well-practiced at taking credit for economic recovery and job creation. Whether actual progress or improvements exist or not, he claims time and time again that the country is in better shape because of his political initiatives. However, due to the Administration’s flawed policies, closer analysis of the facts reveals that our economy and job market are lackluster at best. In fact, our country is currently suffering from the weakest economic recovery since World War II.