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Oklahoma's Lucas Votes 'No' on Second Bailout Plan

By Ron Jenkins

October 3, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY - Rep. Frank Lucas was the only U.S. House member from Oklahoma to vote against the financial bailout plan that passed the U.S. House on Friday by a 263-177 margin.

Reps. John Sullivan and Mary Fallin voted against the bailout earlier this week, but switched to "yes" on the Senate-approved version.

Reps. Tom Cole and Dan Boren - the delegation's only Democrat - voted for the bailout for the second time.

Lucas said he could not justify voting for a complex plan that cost taxpayers so much money and was put together hastily without input from rank-and-file members of Congress.

He said most of his constituents were opposed to "rewarding the reckless behavior of Wall Street."

"This is not the fault of my folks in the 3rd District of Oklahoma. The bottom line is I hope it works, because if it doesn't, we'll be back in session in January or February and they'll be more of these ideas thrown out."

Lucas and Fallin did not announce their positions heading into the vote. Sullivan disclosed Thursday that he supports the bill.

"While the Senate passed financial rescue package is far from perfect - in fact it is a bitter pill to swallow - I am convinced that action needs to be taken to protect the pensions, investments and ability of Americans to obtain a line of credit, and therefore I will vote to support the bill," Sullivan said.

The three reluctant Oklahoma Republicans had been under pressure to back the plan.

Lucas said among those contacting him were President Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

"I never got this kind of attention" on any other legislation, he said.

Cole, who supported both measures, said he questioned whether a "yes" vote was the right move, but couldn't risk the consequences of failing to act.

"I am not willing to gamble the jobs, life savings, retirement accounts, the homes and the businesses of the people I represent," he said.

Back in Oklahoma, the leaders of 14 top employers and the presidents of the two largest universities sent a letter urging the state's delegation to unite behind the plan.}

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