House members split over disaster relief, debt ceiling
Multifaceted legislation to provide disaster relief aid to Texas, temporarily raise the debt ceiling and fund the government for three months split Oklahoma’s all-Republican U.S. House delegation Friday.
The House voted 31690 to pass the bill, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk. All 90 votes in opposition came from Republicans, including two from Oklahoma.
U.S. Reps. Steve Russell and Markwayne Mullin voted against the bill, U.S. Reps. Tom Cole and Frank Lucas voted in favor, and U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine did not vote.
Russell, R-Oklahoma City, said last month that he opposes all increases to the national debt limit, the amount of money the federal government can borrow to cover annual deficits.
“I just think we need to stay within our limits. Every time that we go back and do an increase in the debt limit, we don’t solve the problem,” Russell said during an interview Aug. 8.
Cole, R-Moore, has said he opposes so-called “clean” debt ceiling increases — those which do not contain budget cuts or reforms — comparing them to a financially reckless man who raises his credit card limit but refuses to rein in his spending. The legislation passed Friday and voted on by Cole included a clean debt ceiling extension.
Lucas, R-Cheyenne, applauded the bill for providing disaster relief funds and avoiding a default on the national debt.
“Just as our fellow citizens have come to Oklahoma’s aid after natural disasters in the past, it’s important we step up for our neighbors in the aftermath of these devastating storms,” Lucas said Friday. “I’m glad Congress took swift action to pass this critical relief package to ensure the tools and resources are in place for a strong recovery effort.”
The congressman said defaulting on the debt was “unacceptable” and urged Congress to begin lowering the growth of government.
“It will take consistent hard work — not lastminute, across-the-board cuts — to identify and address wasteful government spending, and I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues in this long-term effort,” Lucas said.
Sheryl Kaufman, a spokeswoman for Bridenstine, said Friday that he will not vote on any legislation while his nomination to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is pending before the Senate “in order to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest relating to his prospective position within the administration.”
Senators split, too
On Thursday, the Senate voted 80 to 17 to pass the bill and send it to the House. That vote also split Oklahoma’s delegation: U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, voted in favor and U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, voted against.
“Disaster relief and the debt ceiling should have been completely separate,” Lankford said in a statement explaining his vote.
The legislation was the result of a compromise struck Wednesday by Trump, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi that surprised many in Washington and annoyed conservatives in Congress.
When Congress voted for a clean debt ceiling increase in 2014, Bridenstine, Mullin, Lucas, Cole and Lankford — then a House member — all opposed it. Both of Oklahoma’s senators opposed it as well.
A year later, Congress again voted to increase the debt ceiling. This time, Cole and Lucas voted in favor, as they did Friday. Bridenstine, Mullin and Russell were opposed, as were both senators, Inhofe and Lankford.