Most political pundits were perplexed, but not necessarily surprised when Kendra Horn won Congressional District 5 in Central Oklahoma. In a “wave” election year you will see some seats that were not supposed to be competitive or even close, flip parties due to national and local indicators. The question is, can Kendra Horn carve a moderate path with a more and more liberal Democrat party?

We saw on the NBC Affiliate in Oklahoma City this past weekend, KFOR, the political show “Flashpoint” where Horn was pressed by former GOP Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, now a host on the show, regarding her first vote in Congress for Nancy Pelosi.  Time and time again, it seems as if Congresswoman Horn is just not comfortable with that vote and with time it becomes harder and harder for her to explain back home in Oklahoma.

Take that awkward exchange and balance its substance to earlier this August recess when, after pressure from social media ads deployed by the Consumer Coalition of Oklahoma (a Pro-Stitt C4),  Horn signed a letter with other swing-district Democrats across the country asking Pelosi to put USMCA on the floor for a vote.

Immigration, Green New Deal, Defense spending, and a myriad of other issues continue to put Horn in a perpetual game of Ping-Pong from appeasing the Speaker of the House to appealing with her GOP-leaning constituents. We haven’t really even gotten into the Democrat Presidential primaries… Would Horn support a nominee who wants to get rid of fossil fuels? That would be crushing to her re-election chances in Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry heavy 5^th district.

BIG QUESTION: Can Horn survive her continual game of Ping-Pong or will she get spiked trying to be everyone’s friend?

Stephanie Bice Announces Campaign for Congress
Conservative State Senator to reclaim seat for GOP

(Oklahoma City) – Stephanie Bice, an Oklahoma City native who has earned a reputation as one of Oklahoma’s most effective conservative leaders, announced today that she will run for the United States House of Representatives in 2020.

A fourth generation Oklahoman, Bice was elected to the state senate in 2014 and serves as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Chair of Senate Finance Committee.

“Washington is seized by gridlock and runaway spending and a Democratic House majority that has embraced socialist policies and big government solutions,” Bice said. “In Congress, I’ll do what I’ve done in Oklahoma, tackle big problems head-on and work to deliver conservative solutions that grow our economy for hard-working Oklahoma taxpayers.”

A champion of the free-market, Bice modernized Oklahoma’s liquor laws by engineering the first overhaul since 1959 when prohibition was repealed in Oklahoma. Hailed as a victory for consumers and for economic development, Stephanie’s efforts have expanded opportunities in Oklahoma for locally owned businesses resulting in dozens of new breweries, wineries and distilleries opening across the state and creating approximately 5000 new jobs. These common-sense changes have increased options for consumers allowing for the sale of wine and beer in grocery stores for the first time.
 
To control state spending, as chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Bice led the effort to require legislative approval of line-item budgets for Oklahoma’s largest state agencies.

“Conservative polices and bold leadership are turning Oklahoma around, but Washington’s ineptitude threatens Oklahoma’s economic growth,” Bice said. “We can’t have a representative who answers to Nancy Pelosi and a far-left socialist agenda.”

Bice’s leadership skills and abilities garnered state and national attention. She received the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce Rising Star award and was selected a member of the Governing Institute Women in Government Leadership Class of 2016.

A pro-life conservative, Stephanie has been endorsed by Oklahoma Right to Life and has maintained an 93% rating from the National Rifle Association.

After graduating from Oklahoma State with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a minor in International Business, Bice worked for eight years in financial oversight, business strategy and marketing for her family’s technology company. She later helped lead a boutique digital marketing company in Oklahoma City as Vice President of Business Development.

Bice is a graduate of Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City. She and her husband Geoffrey have two daughters. They are members of St. Eugene Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.

RETIREMENT from the U.S. Senate did nothing to temper Tom Coburn’s interest in the affairs of Washington or his concerns about the future of this country. They’re as evident as ever today.

Coburn, who turned 70 in March, wrote a book last year called “Smashing the DC Monopoly” about the need for an Article V convention of the states, and has traveled the country promoting that idea. He touched on it again last week in an interview with Rick Santelli on CNBC in a discussion about federal spending concerns.

“The only ultimate strategy is to have a constitutional amendment that requires fiscal discipline from Washington, which means you’re going to use generally accepted accounting principles, which they never use,” Coburn said.

“And No. 2, give them a period of time where they have to balance the budget, then you have a supermajority of the states say, ‘Yeah, you can spend more money than that.’ That’s the only way we’ll ever control it. We have to have a structural change in how we spend money in Washington.”

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com

Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) released a video Thursday night reminding the nation that the Republican Party is the party of legal immigration.

The video includes clips from a 2018 naturalization ceremony in Oklahoma City to illustrate the importance of legal immigration in the United States.

Lankford has previously introduced legislation to protect DREAMERS. This past week he introduced legislation to end the separating of families at the Mexican-American border.

​“This afternoon, if you want to apply for any job in the country, you can. You’re an American. You can buy any place. You can live anywhere. You can travel anywhere. You can go to any house of worship you choose to go to…because you’re in America,” Lankford says in the video, welcoming the naturalized citizens to their new home.

Read the complete story from themaven.net

WATCH: I'm setting the record straight and putting an end to the #FakeNews pic.twitter.com/PrNHheVf2T

— Kevin Hern (@krhern) June 16, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2018

KEVIN HERN RESPONDS TO CLUB FOR GROWTH ATTACK ADS

Club for Growth, a DC insider group, endorsed Andy Coleman. Two days after the endorsement, Club began spending over $250,000 on false and misleading ads against Kevin Hern. The Club is taking every angle to slow the Hern campaign’s momentum through lies and deceit. Mr. Coleman had 2 full days to denounce these false attacks but chose not to do that. Therefore, the Hern campaign is setting the record straight by releasing an ad detailing the Club for Growth’s association to Coleman and the groups distaste for President Trump. Club for Growth spent over $7 million dollars opposing Trump in the 2016 election, calling him a “terrible leader on economic growth…and the worst kind of politician who will say anything to get elected.” DC special interest groups like Club are attacking the Hern campaign because Kevin is a 100% supporter of President Trump and his agenda, and they do not want a small businessman like Kevin Hern in Congress.

The Hern campaign has pledged to run a clean campaign and have asked our competitors to do the same. We are calling on Mr. Coleman’s campaign to publicly denounce the false and misleading ads from Club for Growth. We look forward to hearing from our opponent in joining this commitment. The opportunity at hand is too important to waste by wallowing in the mud and allowing outside groups to influence the people’s vote—we should demand better. The citizens of Oklahoma should determine the outcome of this election, not DC special interest groups.

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Senator James Lankford speaks on the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot at the John Hope Franklin Symposium https://t.co/g3TuhQUg3B

— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) June 1, 2018

https://www.pscp.tv/SenatorLankford/1YqKDdkkNkYKV?t

Sen. James Lankford Joins OK Faith Leaders in Opposing SQ 788

Today, a grassroots and broad-based coalition of Oklahoma’s faith leaders announced their opposition to State Question 788, a ballot referendum that would legalize the commercialization and sale of medical marijuana in Oklahoma. The measure will be on the June 26 statewide ballot.

More than 100 of Oklahoma’s clergy form the coalition to defeat SQ 788 because they believe it will be harmful to the social fabric of Oklahoma, including families and businesses.

U.S. Senator James Lankford is a member of the group. He is concerned about the risks marijuana poses, especially to families and our economy.

“This state question is being sold to Oklahomans as a compassionate medical marijuana bill by outside groups that actually want access to recreational marijuana. Most of us have seen first-hand the damage done to families and our communities from recreational marijuana use,” Sen. Lankford said.

“This is a moment when we should work to make our state stronger, healthier and more economically sound, not more drug addicted and distracted. No one will convince me that our families will be better if only more parents and grandparents smoke more marijuana.”

“Our workplaces will not be more productive and safe when more people smoke marijuana in and around the workplace. Our universities will not be more successful with more marijuana use on campus. Our schools and our kids will not be better educated if more parents and grandparents smoke more marijuana, even if it does increase tax revenue. It is a sad sign of our culture when marijuana lobbyists and users can push increased access to marijuana as a supposed benefit for our kids.”

Paul Abner is director of Oklahoma Faith Leaders, a group who is part of the multi-faith coalition against SQ 788. He says SQ 788 is not about medical marijuana, but is a much more expansive bill that will have adverse side effects and an affiliation with crime.

“We need to recognize State Question 788 for what it is – NOT medical marijuana,” said Abner. “Under the language of the state question, marijuana can be prescribed to an 18-year-old complaining of a toothache. I’m against this bill – not because I don’t have compassion for people dealing with painful illnesses – but because of the broad nature of this bill and the drugs’ negative impact on our communities and families.”

Oklahoma’s faith leaders say that they don’t want the harmful consequences of legalizing this drug seen in other states, like increased incidents of drugged driving and more kids using marijuana.

“State Question 788 will do much more than offer a path to medical marijuana,” said Archbishop Paul Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. “The way the measure is written, we believe it threatens far more unintended consequences than solutions. Medical marijuana is a serious policy proposal that requires thorough investigation and debate. We must oppose State Question 788 and any similar measure until full consideration can be given to this subject.”

Abner said that his group is concerned with the fact that in SQ 788, there is no medical illness requirement in order to obtain a prescription – so an 18-year-old with a headache could receive a license to possess marijuana.

“None of us can sustain the sound minds and healthy bodies God desires us to have when we place ourselves under the controlling influence of something other than his Spirit. If this state question passes, we have no ability to stop someone from using marijuana in public places, exposing even children to second-hand marijuana smoke, because it elevates the status of marijuana to a medicine.

“State Question 788 is recreational marijuana disguised as medical marijuana and why we say this state question should absolutely not pass,” Abner said.

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Lucas Statement on Farm Bill
Lucas notes that Farm Bill effort is an ongoing process

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-3), Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, released the following statement today upon the House’s failure to pass the Agricultural and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2).

“I am disappointed that the House has failed to pass the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Congressman Lucas. “This legislation builds upon the successes of the 2014 Farm Bill by protecting the safety net for producers and ensuring our fellow citizens have access to affordable, high quality food. Low commodity prices have created a challenging environment for our country’s farmers and ranchers so the farm safety net is more important than ever in providing producers with much-needed economic certainty.”

“For the sake of farmers and ranchers across rural America and the consumers who rely on access to safe and affordable products, we must begin the Farm Bill process in a timely manner. The previous Farm Bill presented similar challenges, and I am committed to continuing a dialogue with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move this process forward.”

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Senator Lankford Responds to Senator Schumer’s Hypocrisy on Gridlock Reform Rules Proposal
Lankford: “The rules proposal that the Minority Leader is opposing is the exact same rules proposal that he actually voted for in 2013”

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a floor speech in response to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) criticism of Lankford’s gridlock reform Senate rules change resolution (S. Res. 355), which will be voted on in the Rules Committee tomorrow. In 2013, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced this same resolution solely for the duration of the 113th Congress (2013-2014); it passed with bipartisan support, 78-16 and was supported by nearly every Democrat, including Senator Schumer. Today, Senator Schumer opposes the exact proposal he touted just five years ago.

Currently, Senate Democrats have slowed down the Senate and forced cloture votes on 85 Trump administration nominees, forcing prolonged debate before the Senate confirmed them. The previous four Presidents combined had only 15 nominees confirmed after a cloture vote at this point in their terms. As of today, there are currently 139 executive, 57 district court, and 10 circuit court nominations waiting for Senate confirmation.

To permanently improve the efficiency of the Senate and confirm more nominees, Lankford’s resolution would simply reduce debate time for most executive branch nominees from 30 hours down to eight hours, and district court nominees from 30 hours to two hours. The resolution maintains the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time for Supreme Court, Circuit Court, and Cabinet-level nominees.

Excerpts:

(00:00-1:49) Mr. President, earlier today, the Minority Leader came to the floor to talk about multiple issues. During that conversation, he called me out by name and a rules proposal that I have in front of the Rules Committee this week, saying he vehemently disagrees with that rules proposal, and he mentioned even that he knows I came here in 2014 and I should study the history of the Senate a little bit more before I bring up a rules proposal. Well, I would only tell you, I have studied the history a little bit and would like to get a little bit of context around those comments. The rules proposal that the Minority Leader is opposing is the exact same rules proposal that he actually voted for in 2013 when he was on the Rules Committee and then voted for again when it came to the floor of the Senate. This is not some radical proposal. Democrats in 2013 found it intolerable what was happening with the nomination process. And so at the beginning of 2013, they worked with Republicans and said, we need to be able to put a structure in place to be able to get nominations through because a President should be able to have his staff put in place and there shouldn’t be an arbitrary slowdown through that process. Republicans came on board, even during a very contentious time as Republicans did not agree with the policies of President Obama and said we would agree. With a vote of 78 total votes, 78 votes on the floor of the Senate, a rule change was made that was proposed by Senator Reid, supported by Senator Schumer, supported by Senator McConnell to say this is a rule change that would go into place. It was a very simple rule.

(2:58-3:48) Fast forward to today. Today we have a historic new precedent that’s been set for any President coming in. That was absolutely not done by Republicans in the past and it was absolutely not done by Democrats in the past. But it is being done now. Right now, there are 67 judges pending and 139 executive nominees pending. 139. In just the past year and a few months, Democrats have requested 85 cloture votes. That is asking for an additional 30 hours of debate time. And they can say well, these nominees need to be vetted. These are all nominees that have already gone through the committee process, have already waited in line. There’s been a tremendous amount of invest of vetting.

(8:01-8:50) If there’s another proposal that we can have, I’m glad to be able to have that conversation. I’m not looking to make it contentious. I’m trying to actually solve a bad precedent. Because the precedent that’s now been set by the minority party right now will be the new precedent when the next President comes. So the next time there’s a Democrat President, I can assure you Republicans will say, well, we’ll just do the same thing Democrats did to the Republican president. We’ll do to the next Democrat President. And year after year this toxic environment gets worse. The only way to dial the volume back is to actually fix the rules, to be able to make sure they stay fair for everyone. Again, this is not a partisan move for me. This is trying to get the Senate to actually function and work again.

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