Oklahoma Delegation Reacts To Obama Speech

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation say they'll work with President Obama and others to bolster the nation's faltering economy, but they also criticized a $787 billion economic stimulus package and other proposals to deal with the crisis.

Republican Reps. Tom Cole, Mary Fallin, Frank Lucas and John Sullivan commented after Obama's speech Tuesday night to the American people and a joint session of Congress.

Sen. Jim Inhofe released a statement on his web site.

Cole and Lucas agreed with Obama that the GOP and the Democrats must work together to solve the country's problems.

Cole said that overcoming the present challenges will take sweat equity. But he also disagreed with Obama's push to allow tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 to expire next year and with the cost of the stimulus package and a proposed spending bill.

Fallin said she had concerns about the budget deficit and whether Obama would keep his pledge to cut it by reducing military spending and increasing taxes on small businesses.

Lucas also was critical of the stimulus plan and proposals for increasing spending, but he agreed with Obama that the United States will recover.