Federal Government

Coburn pessimistic on 'Gang of Six' budget talks

Written by Dick Pryor Wednesday, 18 May 2011 17:23

WASHINGTON (AP) - A member of a bipartisan "Gang of Six" senators says the group is unlikely to reach agreement on a plan to cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next decade through a mix of new tax revenues and cuts across a wide swath of the federal budget. Sen. Tom Coburn says chances of the group reaching agreement after months of negotiations are "not good."

The Oklahoma Republican was a member of President Barack Obama's fiscal commission and he voted for the panel's plan in December. The group has been closely watched by those hoping for a bipartisan deficit-cutting plan that might gain momentum despite the partisanship consuming Capitol Hill. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, a member of the group, said that it met Tuesday and will meet again Wednesday.

 

Voters pepper Lankford with questions at town hall

Written by Dick Pryor Friday, 29 April 2011 18:25

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma voters upset with a proposed GOP plan to overhaul Medicare peppered new Republican U.S. Rep. James Lankford with questions over how future retirees will fare under the proposal. Oklahoma's newest congressman held his first public town hall meeting Thursday in Oklahoma City, and most of the questions centered on changes to Medicare.

The budget passed earlier this month by House Republicans would replace Medicare with a government payment to buy private insurance, for people hitting age 65 in 2022 or later. Susan McCann of Edmond says she fears a voucher-based system will leave many seniors without health care when they're older and need it most. But Lankford says the GOP proposal will not end Medicare, but make necessary changes to keep it solvent.

 

Inhofe reaches deal with FAA over landing

Written by Dick Pryor Wednesday, 13 April 2011 19:42

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Sen. Jim Inhofe reached an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration over his landing of a Cessna aircraft on a closed runway in Texas last year. The Oklahoma Republican completed a remedial training program rather than face possible legal action. Witnesses say Inhofe "sky-hopped" the airplane over six vehicles and ground personnel as he landed and that workers were running for cover. Construction supervisor Sidney Boyd says he was on the closed runway and told the FAA that the senator "scared" workers and "damn near hit" a truck before landing. Boyd's recounting of the Oct. 21 incident to the FAA was first reported by The Smoking Gun and was part of the FAA investigation. Inhofe issued a statement Wednesday calling the event an "old story" and said the matter is over.

 

Inhofe stays out of Ivory Coast election fray

Written by Dick Pryor Tuesday, 05 April 2011 14:14

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe says a top official at the State Department asked him to intervene in the aftermath of a disputed election in the Ivory Coast but that he declined to do so. Inhofe, R-Okla., tells The Oklahoman's Washington Bureau he did not act on the request. He says he told Donald Yamamoto, a principal deputy assistant secretary at the State Department, that he would not speak to then-President Laurent Gbagbo. Inhofe says that is because he was not assuming Gbagbo had lost last year's election.

The State Department declined to answer The Oklahoman's questions about the request for Inhofe to intervene. Inhofe has frequently visited the Ivory Coast and other nations in Africa. He says he is "probably the most knowledgeable person about Africa in the U.S. Senate."