Oklahoman: Oklahoma Delegation Reacts to Obama Speech

Members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation reacted Wednesday to President Barack Obama’s speech:

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa: "As usual, President Obama’s delivery was absolutely superb, but no level of eloquence can make his health care scheme look good. The American people just are not buying it. This speech was billed as unveiling the president’s detailed proposal for health care reform. However … he seemed intent on refocusing the American people and Congress away from details.”

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee: "If the president means what he says, he needs to tell House and Senate Democrats to start over. Both the House and Senate bills do, in fact, set the stage for health care rationing, taxpayer-funded abortion and a government takeover of the health care system.”

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore: "The president has squandered many opportunities to make this bill better and to garner bipartisan support for health care reform. There are many worthwhile ideas that have been left out of the discussion. For example, we could lower costs dramatically by embracing real tort reform and eliminating lawsuit abuse which drives up costs for doctors and patients alike. We could allow consumers to purchase health insurance across state lines … and we could allow self-employed consumers to purchase health insurance with pretax dollars.”

Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne: "We need to get back to the drawing board on health care reform. There are legitimate needs when it comes to health care reform — cost, access, and a solution for the millions of uninsured Americans — but we need to focus on improving the efficiency of the system we already have in place.”

Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee: "I remain opposed to a public option, as well as tax increases on small businesses. I was pleased the president highlighted the issue of pre-existing conditions and insurance reform. However, I believe that bipartisanship requires not only listening to input, but also incorporating ideas of those with opposing viewpoints.”

Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa: "At its core, this is a health insurance problem, and the prescription does not require a wholesale abandonment of our health care system in favor of government-run health care. … Simply put, we need to reform health care, not nationalize it.”