OK Lawmakers Vote On Measures Surrounding Budget Debate

The seven members of Oklahoma's Congressional delegation -- all Republicans -- have voted together on all the measures surrounding the current budget debate. But that doesn't mean they all view the issue the same way.

Where the differences lie is with the notion of tying approval of a budget to the defunding or delay of Obamacare.

Each member of the delegation opposes Obamacare -- the Affordable Care Act – but they are not all agreed on whether trying to stop it is worth shutting down the federal government.

Senator Coburn has probably been most vocal in opposing that strategy. Last week, he said, "When some Senators were using flawed and pretend 'filibuster' tactics to defund Obamacare that were destined to fail, they should have instead been focusing on how the [continuing resolution] wastes scarce taxpayer dollars."

Congressman Tom Cole also feels it's a mistake to put government jobs on the line, in order to make a political statement about the President's health care program. "Government shutdown is not the answer," Cole said, "it is a faulty, irresponsible strategy that will have grave consequences if not averted."

The majority of the delegation, though, feels more like District 1 Representative Jim Bridenstine, who defends the House leadership's 'either-or' approach. "The American people have communicated clearly that they want the government open and they want to stop Obamacare," Bridenstine stated. "The House heard and responded to the voice of the people."

And Senator Jim Inhofe, one of the most conservative of all members of Congress, calls Obamacare "disastrous," and says that he will do "whatever it takes" to defund it.