For Immediate Release: Contact:
November 4, 2008 Ryan Owens -- 580.276.7530
COLE RE-ELECTED TO SERVE FOURTH TERM IN THE U.S. HOUSE
NORMAN, OK – The citizens of Oklahoma's Fourth Congressional District have re-elected Congressman Tom Cole by a wide margin. Cole received well over 60% of the vote and appeared well on his way to sweeping every county in the Fourth District.
Congressman Cole responded to the news of his re-election with the following comments:
"It is a tremendous honor to represent my fellow Oklahomans in the U.S. House of Representatives. I am humbled by their support and trust. When we started this campaign we knew that we would have a tough fight because of the toxic political environment we faced. Washington is broken and the American people are fed up with endless partisan bickering. We need to get our economy back on track, we need a common sense energy policy that weans us off foreign sources of oil and we need a united foreign policy that recognizes the world is still a very dangerous place. As I have for the past six years, I renew my pledge to the people of Oklahoma to work in a bi-partisan manner to find real solutions to the challenges facing our great country."
"Both of my opponents ran very good campaigns, worked hard and contributed ideas to the dialogue during this process. It's clear that Oklahomans' care about the future of this country as well as the promise and growth of our state. I look forward to representing the views, the values and the interests of my fellow Oklahomans over the next two years."
###
--
Ryan Owens
Campaign Manager
Tom Cole for Congress (OK-04)
Showing posts with label Tom Cole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Cole. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A message from Tom Cole regarding ACORN
10/20/2008
Much is being made in the news lately of the uncovering of massive, multi-state, multi-election cycle voter fraud, perpetrated by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also known as ACORN. In just the past year and a half ACORN claims to have registered 1.3 million new voters. Normally this would be a good thing - we should encourage greater participation in our political system. Unfortunately, it is becoming clear that ACORN was operating a massive scam by registering tens of thousands of phony voters.
Read More
Much is being made in the news lately of the uncovering of massive, multi-state, multi-election cycle voter fraud, perpetrated by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also known as ACORN. In just the past year and a half ACORN claims to have registered 1.3 million new voters. Normally this would be a good thing - we should encourage greater participation in our political system. Unfortunately, it is becoming clear that ACORN was operating a massive scam by registering tens of thousands of phony voters.
Read More
Monday, October 6, 2008
Why I voted Yes By Tom Cole
Why I Voted Yes
By: Congressman Tom Cole
Last week both the House and Senate passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. As you may imagine, this was the most difficult vote I have ever been asked to cast as an elected official. Lyndon Johnson once said that "doing the right thing isn't hard, knowing the right thing to do is." In the past few weeks I have heard from thousands of my constituents, and most - but by no means all - of them were opposed to this bill. So it was pretty clear to me that voting no would have been the easy thing to do. But I do not believe my constituents sent me to Congress to do the easy thing. I believe they sent me to Congress to study complex issues, give thoughtful consideration to difficult challenges such as the one we voted on and to use my best judgment on their behalf.
After studying the issue carefully and seeking the advice and counsel of economists and other experts on the American and global economy, I came to the conclusion that failure to take bold action would have resulted in a stock market collapse, frozen credit and economic catastrophe. I was unwilling to gamble the jobs, life savings, retirement accounts and the homes and businesses of the people I was elected to represent. Nor was I willing to risk the global, political and social turmoil that will surely occur if there is a severe and prolonged recession or depression in the United States.
As Oklahomans, we have seen more than our fair share of economic hardship over the years. My own parents and grandparents lived through the Great Depression. They dealt with the hard times at home and the wars abroad that it spawned. Most of us lived through the 1980s when a banking and real estate collapse devastated Oklahoma's economy. We saw our state's per capita income fall from 98% to 79% of the national average. We watched hundreds of banks close, thousands of businesses fail and countless families lose their life's savings. I was not willing to stand by and let that happen again for the sake of political popularity, ideological purity or legislative perfection.
The bill that I voted for last week was a much better bill than Treasury Secretary Paulson's original proposal. This bill had protections for taxpayers such as a federal insurance program that will force Wall Street to share the financial burden. According to the legislation, taxpayers will also be protected from losses, irresponsible executives will not be rewarded with "golden parachutes" or severance pay and community banks will be able to write off losses on Freddie and Fannie mortgage assets that they hold. The bill also restricted the Treasury's immediate spending authority by half, requiring a second vote of the Congress in order to receive authority to spend the remaining $350 billion.
Some have attempted to suggest that this legislation included earmarks and / or pork. This is patently untrue. What it actually included was an extension of several very popular bi-partisan tax cuts intended to strengthen the economy as well as the buying power of families and small businesses that would have otherwise been subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax.
Finally, I heard from many of my colleagues and constituents who told me that "something must be done - but not this." And without question, if I had my way the legislation would have looked quite a bit different. But this legislation was brought to the House floor under rules that prevented it from being amended. Nor was any alternative legislation brought to the floor to be considered. I did not have the choice of voting for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or some alternative. My choice was to vote for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or do nothing. After a great deal of consideration, I came to the conclusion that voting no and doing nothing would not have been the right thing to do.
By: Congressman Tom Cole
Last week both the House and Senate passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. As you may imagine, this was the most difficult vote I have ever been asked to cast as an elected official. Lyndon Johnson once said that "doing the right thing isn't hard, knowing the right thing to do is." In the past few weeks I have heard from thousands of my constituents, and most - but by no means all - of them were opposed to this bill. So it was pretty clear to me that voting no would have been the easy thing to do. But I do not believe my constituents sent me to Congress to do the easy thing. I believe they sent me to Congress to study complex issues, give thoughtful consideration to difficult challenges such as the one we voted on and to use my best judgment on their behalf.
After studying the issue carefully and seeking the advice and counsel of economists and other experts on the American and global economy, I came to the conclusion that failure to take bold action would have resulted in a stock market collapse, frozen credit and economic catastrophe. I was unwilling to gamble the jobs, life savings, retirement accounts and the homes and businesses of the people I was elected to represent. Nor was I willing to risk the global, political and social turmoil that will surely occur if there is a severe and prolonged recession or depression in the United States.
As Oklahomans, we have seen more than our fair share of economic hardship over the years. My own parents and grandparents lived through the Great Depression. They dealt with the hard times at home and the wars abroad that it spawned. Most of us lived through the 1980s when a banking and real estate collapse devastated Oklahoma's economy. We saw our state's per capita income fall from 98% to 79% of the national average. We watched hundreds of banks close, thousands of businesses fail and countless families lose their life's savings. I was not willing to stand by and let that happen again for the sake of political popularity, ideological purity or legislative perfection.
The bill that I voted for last week was a much better bill than Treasury Secretary Paulson's original proposal. This bill had protections for taxpayers such as a federal insurance program that will force Wall Street to share the financial burden. According to the legislation, taxpayers will also be protected from losses, irresponsible executives will not be rewarded with "golden parachutes" or severance pay and community banks will be able to write off losses on Freddie and Fannie mortgage assets that they hold. The bill also restricted the Treasury's immediate spending authority by half, requiring a second vote of the Congress in order to receive authority to spend the remaining $350 billion.
Some have attempted to suggest that this legislation included earmarks and / or pork. This is patently untrue. What it actually included was an extension of several very popular bi-partisan tax cuts intended to strengthen the economy as well as the buying power of families and small businesses that would have otherwise been subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax.
Finally, I heard from many of my colleagues and constituents who told me that "something must be done - but not this." And without question, if I had my way the legislation would have looked quite a bit different. But this legislation was brought to the House floor under rules that prevented it from being amended. Nor was any alternative legislation brought to the floor to be considered. I did not have the choice of voting for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or some alternative. My choice was to vote for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 or do nothing. After a great deal of consideration, I came to the conclusion that voting no and doing nothing would not have been the right thing to do.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tom Cole Happy With VP Pick
Congressman Cole comments on McCain's VP pick:
"Choosing Governor Palin as the Republican vice presidential running mate is a truly historic decision," Congressman Cole said. "This was a smart and savvy choice that proves John McCain is willing and able to think outside the box. Sarah Palin is a maverick reformer - just like Senator McCain - and I am proud and excited to support her addition to the Republican presidential ticket. "
"Her list of credentials is impressive. She will bring her strong record of support for America's families, her expertise on energy issues and her refreshing style of leadership to the White House. As Mayor she shook things up in Wasilla, as Governor she shook things up in Alaska, and together with John McCain, she stands ready to shake things up in Washington DC."
"Choosing Governor Palin as the Republican vice presidential running mate is a truly historic decision," Congressman Cole said. "This was a smart and savvy choice that proves John McCain is willing and able to think outside the box. Sarah Palin is a maverick reformer - just like Senator McCain - and I am proud and excited to support her addition to the Republican presidential ticket. "
"Her list of credentials is impressive. She will bring her strong record of support for America's families, her expertise on energy issues and her refreshing style of leadership to the White House. As Mayor she shook things up in Wasilla, as Governor she shook things up in Alaska, and together with John McCain, she stands ready to shake things up in Washington DC."
Monday, August 4, 2008
Congressman Cole Standing Up For All Americans
For Immediate Release: August 4, 2008
Staying Late to Demand a Vote on Energy
By: Congressman Tom Cole
While citizens across the country go bargain-hunting for the “cheapest” gas prices in their areas, Speaker Pelosi and other members of House leadership have collectively put up their “will return after 5-weeks vacation” signs. Sound inconceivable? It should be, but, unfortunately, it is all too true. As America’s families, small businesses and farmers struggle to afford gasoline, Nancy Pelosi and her party remain committed to taking their annual paid vacation. This shameless move by House Democrats to lock the doors of Congress without so much as a vote on legislation to lower gasoline prices is downright negligent.
House Republicans, however, have responded in an unprecedented move by refusing to leave the House chamber, even after Speaker Pelosi ordered the lights, cameras and microphones shut off. I was proud to join my colleagues, some of whom literally got off airplanes to return to the floor when they learned of the Republican "revolt," to demand that Congress reconvene and vote to pass legislation to bring down gasoline prices.
The Speaker's refusal to bring meaningful energy legislation to the floor is not just an abuse of power that silences the Republican opposition - she is using her authority to thwart the will of a majority of Congress. She knows that there is strong, bipartisan support for more domestic production in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf. She knows that a majority in Congress support greater use of domestically produced coal and natural gas. And she knows that Americans are ready to embrace clean, safe, nuclear energy. But the radical environmentalists who apparently control her agenda would prevent the democratically elected representatives of the people from carrying out their Constitutional duties rather than risk losing the vote.
While Nancy Pelosi and her small band of obstructionists believe we can solve our energy crisis by relying on conservation and renewable energy alone, there are some members of my own party who believe we can drill our way out of this problem. I disagree with both of these approaches. I think for the sake of our nation's energy independence our policy must be "all of the above." It is absurd for our nation to ignore our vast domestic resources of oil, coal and natural gas. We should be developing them and putting them to use for the American consumer. But it would be short sighted and foolhardy for the United States to miss this opportunity to invest heavily in research into renewable energy and alternative fuels. We need to create incentives for solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy. And we need to increase the tax credits for the purchase of hybrid vehicles. Finally, American consumers need to look for reasonable ways to conserve more energy. Whether through car-pooling, using public transportation or turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, we can and should be more conscientious about our energy use.
It's been 20 months since Nancy Pelosi became the Speaker of the House and promised to bring the nation a "common sense energy policy". Yet since that pronouncement she has done precisely nothing while the United States became even more dependent on an increasingly volatile global petroleum market. And her extreme effort to block the Congress from voting on these matters is making her more and more isolated from her colleagues and the American people. Even the liberal Washington Post has called on her to bring these matters to a vote.
The August recess is an important tradition that allows members to go home and reconnect with their constituents. And I'd certainly rather be in Oklahoma in August than in Washington, D.C. But Speaker Pelosi needs to call us back into session so we can have this important vote. I and my colleagues in the minority party, as well as a significant number of common sense Democrats, stand ready, willing and able to come back to work and finish our job.
###
Liz Eddy
Press Secretary
Staying Late to Demand a Vote on Energy
By: Congressman Tom Cole
While citizens across the country go bargain-hunting for the “cheapest” gas prices in their areas, Speaker Pelosi and other members of House leadership have collectively put up their “will return after 5-weeks vacation” signs. Sound inconceivable? It should be, but, unfortunately, it is all too true. As America’s families, small businesses and farmers struggle to afford gasoline, Nancy Pelosi and her party remain committed to taking their annual paid vacation. This shameless move by House Democrats to lock the doors of Congress without so much as a vote on legislation to lower gasoline prices is downright negligent.
House Republicans, however, have responded in an unprecedented move by refusing to leave the House chamber, even after Speaker Pelosi ordered the lights, cameras and microphones shut off. I was proud to join my colleagues, some of whom literally got off airplanes to return to the floor when they learned of the Republican "revolt," to demand that Congress reconvene and vote to pass legislation to bring down gasoline prices.
The Speaker's refusal to bring meaningful energy legislation to the floor is not just an abuse of power that silences the Republican opposition - she is using her authority to thwart the will of a majority of Congress. She knows that there is strong, bipartisan support for more domestic production in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf. She knows that a majority in Congress support greater use of domestically produced coal and natural gas. And she knows that Americans are ready to embrace clean, safe, nuclear energy. But the radical environmentalists who apparently control her agenda would prevent the democratically elected representatives of the people from carrying out their Constitutional duties rather than risk losing the vote.
While Nancy Pelosi and her small band of obstructionists believe we can solve our energy crisis by relying on conservation and renewable energy alone, there are some members of my own party who believe we can drill our way out of this problem. I disagree with both of these approaches. I think for the sake of our nation's energy independence our policy must be "all of the above." It is absurd for our nation to ignore our vast domestic resources of oil, coal and natural gas. We should be developing them and putting them to use for the American consumer. But it would be short sighted and foolhardy for the United States to miss this opportunity to invest heavily in research into renewable energy and alternative fuels. We need to create incentives for solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy. And we need to increase the tax credits for the purchase of hybrid vehicles. Finally, American consumers need to look for reasonable ways to conserve more energy. Whether through car-pooling, using public transportation or turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, we can and should be more conscientious about our energy use.
It's been 20 months since Nancy Pelosi became the Speaker of the House and promised to bring the nation a "common sense energy policy". Yet since that pronouncement she has done precisely nothing while the United States became even more dependent on an increasingly volatile global petroleum market. And her extreme effort to block the Congress from voting on these matters is making her more and more isolated from her colleagues and the American people. Even the liberal Washington Post has called on her to bring these matters to a vote.
The August recess is an important tradition that allows members to go home and reconnect with their constituents. And I'd certainly rather be in Oklahoma in August than in Washington, D.C. But Speaker Pelosi needs to call us back into session so we can have this important vote. I and my colleagues in the minority party, as well as a significant number of common sense Democrats, stand ready, willing and able to come back to work and finish our job.
###
Liz Eddy
Press Secretary
Monday, July 21, 2008
Tom Cole concerning High Gas Prices
High Gas Prices are Hurting Families
By: Congressman Tom Cole
While Americans continue to pay ever increasing prices for gasoline, House and Senate leaders continue to block real solutions and instead appear to have adopted the policy of "pay more - drive less." What this absurd policy assumes is that only the people who have a significant daily commute are hurt by these high prices. In reality, every family is impacted by these high prices regardless of whether they drive, use public transportation or walk.
A recent report released by The Heritage Foundation found that higher gas prices are adversely affecting employment, draining disposable income from families and forcing many of them to dip into personal savings just to make ends meet. The analysts at the Foundation found that if gas prices continue to rise at their current rate, in one year total employment would go down by 586,000 jobs, personal disposable income would decrease by $532 billion and $400 billion in personal consumption expenses would not be spent in the market. This $132 billion dollar difference will likely be met by dipping into personal and retirement savings and/or plunging deeper into debt. Such a scenario should be deeply troubling to all Americans, not just those who have a significant daily commute.
As is often the case, states, private businesses and individual consumers are far ahead of the curve relative to the federal government. While Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid block votes that would allow us to access our vast domestic reserves of oil, several states are exploring the possibility of moving to a four day work week for state employees. Private businesses are modifying their work schedules in order to cut commute times, using alternative transportation and working remotely. And individual drivers are adjusting their habits in an attempt to consume less gasoline and to do so more efficiently.
In the past few months I have co-sponsored several pieces of legislation that would boost domestic production of oil by accessing the resources we already have and by increasing our refining capacity. In addition, I've co-sponsored legislation that would rebalance the United States' energy portfolio through the construction of new nuclear power plants and the extension of tax credits for renewable energy and hybrid vehicles. I have been willing to support any policy that will help us achieve energy independence and bring price relief to American families.
There is no one solution to this problem; we must attack it from every angle. But before any of this can happen, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid must allow these matters to be voted upon. The reason they will not is because they know there is strong bi-partisan support to pass these common sense bills that are opposed by the radical environmentalists. By preventing a vote, they are effectively hijacking the government, thwarting the will of the people, and contributing to the problem rather than helping to solve it.
Lower Gas Prices, Sign Petition
Demand Congress take Immediate Action to Lower Gas Prices!
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appears intent on preventing votes on opening more areas to offshore drilling..." (Roll Call, 7/14/08)
Demand Congress take IMMEDIATE action to lower gas prices.
Sign our Petition Today! Click here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEREAS,
Democrats in Congress REFUSE to hold a vote on drilling for more oil in America.
Nancy Pelosi has promised to send Congress home for a month-long vacation WITHOUT PASSING AN ENERGY BILL to lower gas prices.
The Democrat Majority is putting their extremist ideology ahead of common-sense solutions.
We, the American people who are paying a national average of more than $4 per gallon of gas, demand Democrats in Congress VOTE NOW!
http://www.nrcc.org/actioncenter/default.asp?ID=288
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appears intent on preventing votes on opening more areas to offshore drilling..." (Roll Call, 7/14/08)
Demand Congress take IMMEDIATE action to lower gas prices.
Sign our Petition Today! Click here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEREAS,
Democrats in Congress REFUSE to hold a vote on drilling for more oil in America.
Nancy Pelosi has promised to send Congress home for a month-long vacation WITHOUT PASSING AN ENERGY BILL to lower gas prices.
The Democrat Majority is putting their extremist ideology ahead of common-sense solutions.
We, the American people who are paying a national average of more than $4 per gallon of gas, demand Democrats in Congress VOTE NOW!
http://www.nrcc.org/actioncenter/default.asp?ID=288
Friday, July 18, 2008
NRCC Slams Democrats
NRCC Slams Dems for Adjourning Without Addressing Fuel Costs
Thursday July 17, 2008
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole is asking any American who'll listen to sign a petition demanding Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi keep Congress in session until a bill can be passed that will address the high costs of oil and fuel.
"When Americans are canceling vacations because gasoline is over $4.00 per gallon, Democrats plan to adjourn work for a month-long vacation the first of August WITHOUT holding a vote to drill for American oil," Cole writes. "This is inexcusable. I know you’ll agree with me that there should be no recess without voting on legislation that can help lower gas prices."
Cole's right. It's time for this nation's leaders to do something to address the fuel crisis that's hitting Americans so hard. It's one thing to consider how the crisis hurts American vacations; it's quite another to consider how the crisis hurts American livelihoods.
Just this week, auto-giant General Motors announced it was cutting its work-force because it's feeling the economic pinch, and no doubt transportation costs are one reason they're hurting so badly. When Americans are losing jobs because Congress won't do its job, something's wrong. I realize the US government typically creates more problems than it solves, but this is one time it can help its citizens in a profound way.
Cole goes on to cite this Gallup Poll, which shows Congress' approval rating hitting a record low of just 14 percent. Part of the problem is that Americans feel legislators ignore their concerns. If the Democrats adjourn without hashing out legislation that will ease the crisis -- even if it simply boils down to letting states decide for themselves what is in their best interests -- they can expect those approval ratings to dip even lower.
While Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning to adjourn Congress in two weeks, a group of House Republicans are planning a trip to Alaska this weekend to learn what About.com readers already know: Alaskans want the right to drill for oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.
If you feel like Congress isn't doing enough to address fuel costs and should save their vacation until after they do their job, sign Cole's petition. Maybe it will be your voice that changes Pelosi's mind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
