Media
Latest News
After over one year and an extraordinary abuse of the legislative process, President Obama has managed to force his health plan through the House. While he and his liberal allies may consider this a victory, it's a defeat for the American people, the economy, and our health care system.
U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) issued the following statement today after House Democrats passed H.R. 4872, Reconciliation Act of 2010, and H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:
"Along with an overwhelming majority of Oklahomans, I strongly oppose the government takeover of health care and the arrogant way it's been forced upon the American people. 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.
With headlines dominated by the Democratic party’s single-minded determination to pass their unpopular health care plan, vital economic issues are getting short shrift. That’s fine for members of the Obama administration, who would probably just as soon the American people not learn the full extent of the damage their policies are inflicting on our national economy.
The process Democrats are pursuing to pass government-run health care has become as flawed as the legislation itself. And that's really saying something. From the beginning, the attempt to force through a government takeover of health care has been marked by disregard for the views of the American people. Now, Democratic leaders are disregarding standard legislative procedures and well-established precedents, as well.
Last week, we were treated to another episode of political theater, courtesy of the Obama administration. The vaunted White House health care summit featured the same themes we've come to expect from previous performances: a partisan political ploy presented as bipartisan dialogue, and big government, big spending policies masquerading as reform.
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Rep. Tom Cole and his colleagues in Oklahoma’s House delegation introduced H.Res.1110, a resolution to honor the Oklahoma National Guard’s Agricultural Development Teams and commend members of the 45th Agri-Business Development Team for their efforts to modernize agriculture and sustainable farming practices in Afghanistan. The resolution also recognizes their dedication and their service to our nation.
Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) hosts his monthly program "Cole on Congress" and visits with Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10) to provide an analysis on the issues facing our nation. (February 2010)
When faced with a $212 billion budget deficit in 1985, President Reagan proposed 245 specific cuts to reduce unnecessary government spending. Having created a 2010 budget deficit of $1.6 trillion, President Obama’s response is to form a debt commission to study the issue.
Almost exactly a year after seeing 787 billion of their tax dollars evaporate courtesy of a so-called “stimulus bill,” Americans are justifiably running out of patience and asking “Where are the jobs?” President Obama and congressional Democrats rushed the stimulus bill through Congress last February amid dire predictions that failure to pass the bill would result in double-digit unemployment, while passage would keep the jobless rate below 8 percent.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) issued the following statement after voting against legislation to increase the debt limit:
"Runaway government spending is bankrupting the country, and the Democrats' response is to raise the debt limit and keep on borrowing and spending. Today's vote increased the debt limit for the sixth time in three years. That kind of spending is simply unsustainable.