Media

During the 2011 debt ceiling debate, President Obama famously declared that the government should "eat our peas" and raise the debt ceiling with no strings attached. But it is the president who needs to get comfortable with the idea of eating not only peas but carrots and spinach, as well. Now that Congress has made the Bush-era tax cuts permanent for 98 percent of American workers, tax rate increases are off the menu. The president's only options for reducing the deficit are spending cuts, entitlement reform and tax reform.

Ada News - Staff Report

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) was appointed to a seat on the House Rules Committee by House Speaker John Boehner. The rules committee is part of the House leadership and works with the speaker and the majority leader to schedule bills and set the terms of debate on the House floor. Every piece of legislation considered by the House must first pass through the rules committee. 

Cole will continue to serve on the House Budget Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.

Cherokee One Feather - Staff Report

The Oklahoman - The Associated Press

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole has been appointed by House Speaker John Boehner to serve on the powerful House Rules Committee.

Cole says his appointment was approved Wednesday night by the House Republican Conference.

The nine Republican members on the panel are personally selected by the speaker and is part of the House leadership. The committee is the first to consider all House measures and works with the speaker and majority leader to schedule bills for debate.

Ada News - Eric Swanson

Congress’ last-minute deal to avoid a “fiscal cliff” of middle-class tax increases and federal spending cuts isn’t perfect, but it sets the stage for reducing the deficit down the road.

That was the view of U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican who voted for the measure late Tuesday night. He said passing the bill ensures that upcoming budget debates will focus solely on reducing federal spending.