Frankly Speaking
The 2010 Census: Oklahoma's Future Is in Your Hands
Nov 24, 2009“Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State.”
-The United States Constitution
Let Us Give Thanks
Nov 19, 2009There is much to be concerned about in this day and age. Our economy continues to suffer. The unemployment rate continues to rise. And we continue to be under the threat of terrorist attacks and home and abroad.
Filed under: GeneralPelosi's Trillion Dollar Government Takeover of Health Care a Bad Prescription for America
Nov 6, 2009The debate over health care has reached a fevered pitch in our nation’s capital. Over the last several months, millions of Americans have spoken out at town halls, have called and written in to the White House, and have even made personal visits to their members of Congress to express their strong opposition to government run health care. Yet Speaker Pelosi has once again ignored their voices.
Filed under: Health CarePelosi's Government Takeover of Health Care Hurts Seniors
Oct 30, 2009No matter how many different ways she scores it, Speaker Pelosi’s health care legislation will cost the American taxpayers approximately one trillion dollars. Right now, the federal government is running a deficit – fiscal year 2009 ended with the government more than $1.42 trillion in debt – and our national debt continues to climb every day.
Filed under: Health CareOne Trillion, Four Hundred Twenty Billion Dollars
Oct 28, 2009One trillion, four hundred twenty billion dollars. It’s an astounding number. It’s more than the entire economy of India and enough to give every man, woman, and child in the United States $4700.
It is also our country’s federal budget deficit for 2009. That means that in the fiscal year 2009, which runs from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009, the federal government spent $1.42 trillion more than it took in. To put this in perspective, last year’s deficit was $459 billion – still an astounding number, but less than half the deficit for this year.
Government Run Health Care Not What the Doctor Ordered for Small Businesses
Oct 27, 2009As Congress moves closer towards solidifying a health care reform package, one thing is clear: the Democrats’ takeover of health care is bad for small businesses.
Filed under: Health Care Reading Bills Is Important
Oct 16, 2009During this Congress, Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team seem to have forgotten the importance of following the proper legislative process so that the final product is a thoughtful and successful bill. By refusing to follow regular order, the Speaker has crammed one bill after another across the House floor, forcing votes on legislation before most members have even had an opportunity to read it. For example, members of Congress were given less than a day to read the cap-and trade legislation, a bill that weighs in at more than 1500 pages and would impose an almost-billion dollar tax
Filed under: GeneralImplementing a Successful Strategy in Afghanistan
Oct 9, 2009Last March, President Obama, stating that the fight in Afghanistan was the front-line in the war on terror, appointed General Stanley McChrystal to evaluate the situation in that country and draft a successful plan of attack. Seven months later, General McChrystal has done just that. While the exact report has not yet been released, some details have been leaked to the public. And the information is distressing.
Filed under: Homeland Security and DefenseExpanding Offshore Drilling Boosts American Economy, Creates Jobs
Sep 30, 2009Last year, following a dramatic price spike in gas prices and very vocal call by the American people to increase American-made energy, Congress and then-President George W. Bush ended a decades-long ban on offshore drilling. Even though the Department of the Interior has jurisdiction over our coasts, Congress had used its power to spend to eliminate offshore drilling by restricting the funds necessary to develop offshore drilling. After President George W.
Filed under: EnergyTales from My Town Hall Tour
Sep 18, 2009Recently, the national media discovered something called a ‘congressional town hall meeting.’ While the idea seemed to come as a surprise to many, all of you know that I have always been a great believer in the positive impact of town hall meetings – doing 50 each year throughout Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District. My town hall schedule this year was no different than last – and I held 18 town halls during the month of August.
Filed under: General
