Editorials
Congressman explains ‘why I voted yes’
By REP. TOM COLE
R-Oklahoma
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.
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 and will allow Congress to withhold 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.
- Editorials
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No Free Speech in OSSAA-land
I didn't mean to stump Ed Sheakley. The OSSAA stays in enough of a stupor without me confusing its director.
But you know how a question just sits there and burns a hole in your intellect? That's what I was experiencing, intellect burn.
- Political Endorsements
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Debates will give you a good chance to hear candidates’ views
Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, and Rep. Phil Richardson, R-Minco, will be on hand to provide analysis after the candidates for House District 47 debate Monday night at the Davis Hall Amphitheatre on the campus of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Democrat Harold Jackson and Republican Leslie Osborn square off in the House 47 debate at 7 p.m. followed at about 8 p.m. by a debate between the candidates for Grady County Sheriff -- Democrat Art Kell and Republican Austin Green.
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Congressman explains ‘why I voted yes’
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.
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Some people lie, even when the truth sounds better
Even at the end, Kieran McMullen couldn’t find it in him to tell the truth.
On Monday, a matter of minutes after he told his staff he was “retiring” he told me there were no developments on his status and with his impending trial.
I guess he thought he was pulling one over on me. That ex-sheriff, he’s such a big joker.
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In the pursuit of justice
This week brought closure to some of the most controversial cases in Grady County history. The corruption cases of Sheriff Kieran McMullen, Police Officer Helen McMullen, Deputy Robert Cacy, Deputy Bill Swanson, Deputy Delmar Barthelme and Police Officer Jerry Tyler have finally come to an end with their guilty pleas to the charges of Willful Neglect of Duty. These individuals were indicted by a Grand Jury in October 2006. Through legal maneuvering they were able to delay the court process for two years. Thousands of dollars in legal fees, court room time and State resources later, the resolution is the same result that I offered before the cases were ever filed.
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Dad doesn’t like it at all, but publisher says it was right call to limit busses
It’s hard sometimes to separate the journalist from the father.
Too often, the two find me straddling a fence on an issue. If you have seen how short my legs are, that’s no small feat.
I found myself divided again this week when it hit home that the Chickasha Public Schools were serious when the Board of Education voted during the summer to cut back on travel by limiting the number of busses taken to out of town events, such as Friday’s Chick football game at Noble.
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Endorsements
Candidates endorsed by the Express-Star Editorial Board.
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Express-Star editorial board calls for sheriff's resignation.
Sheriff Kieran McMullen needs to resign his office immediately.
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Crossing the thin blue line
He could have looked the other way.
Some fellow officers probably think he should have.
However, we are pleased to know that, in Chickasha, police officers are governed by the same laws that they enforce.
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No Free Speech in OSSAA-land
