Oklahoman: Oklahoma’s U.S. House Members Explain ‘No’ Votes

WASHINGTON — All five of Oklahoma’s U.S. House members voted against the health care bill.

→Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore: "This deeply flawed legislation raises taxes, expands government control and kills job creation, but it fails to cut health care costs or meaningfully reform the insurance system. … This $1.2 trillion monstrosity increases taxes by $569 billion and cuts Medicare by $523 billion.”

→Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City: "I am not done fighting to protect Oklahoma’s families and small businesses from this damaging policy change that will result in higher taxes, higher health care premiums, federal mandates on individuals, explosive deficit spending and crushing unfunded mandates on state budgets. I specifically question whether the congressional action taken today will pass constitutional muster.”

→Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa: "This is a sad day in the history of the United States Congress. The American people were clear that they did not want this government takeover of our healthcare system, yet Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and her liberal allies in Congress didn’t seem to care. They twisted arms and cut backroom deals until they had the votes to pass it anyways.”

→Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee: "From my first town hall in August of 2009, which drew audiences exceeding 1,000, to the constant phone calls, letters, faxes, and e-mails to my Washington and Oklahoma offices, the desire for me to oppose this health care proposal has been very clear. For the last 18 months I have said repeatedly that the focus of Congress should be on job creation and getting our economy moving again, not on creating a brand new entitlement program that we simply cannot afford. ”

→Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne: "This bill is extremely unpopular with the American people, who have strongly voiced their opposition to this legislation over the last year. I am dismayed by the audacity of the Democratic leadership and their attempt to bypass the American people and subvert the will of the majority. Change is needed within our health care system. We can all agree on that. But this bill is simply not the answer. In an effort to pass a health care bill — any bill — this Congress has lost its way.”

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