Largent found growth, tolerance in seven years in Congress

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ He didn't author many bills or secure many projects for his home district, but retired U.S. Rep. Steve Largent said he grew more tolerant and appreciative of America's

Monday, February 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ He didn't author many bills or secure many projects for his home district, but retired U.S. Rep. Steve Largent said he grew more tolerant and appreciative of America's diversity during his seven years in Congress.

Largent, a Republican, resigned from Congress on Friday so he could devote time to a bid for governor of Oklahoma.

In his farewell speech to the House, Largent said he came to Washington, D.C. as a novice and a cynic, but left ``as a guy who has tremendous respect for our Constitution and the design of the way things operate.''

``I've come to see the diversity as a real strength as opposed to being frustrated that not everybody thinks like we do in Oklahoma,'' he said.

Largent, 47, was part of a group of conservative legislators swept into Congress in 1994 and made the GOP the majority party in the House. He voted for elements of the Contract with America, including tax cuts, term limits and welfare reform.

But he also became embroiled in a power struggle to dump former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican, and he unsuccessfully challenged House Majority Leader Dick Armey for the No. 2 leadership post.

Recently, when his colleagues banded together in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Largent was in the Idaho woods hunting, unaware of what had happened.

Largent has no regrets about his tenure and is proud of the ``dramatic changes in the way Washington does business,'' he said.

``I don't think Congress will ever be able to back up from where we are right now,'' Largent said.

Some of the laws Largent chose to introduce included changes in the nation's tax code or the way the electricity industry works.

Largent had a hand in legislation to ban same-sex marriages and a push to eliminate funding for the National Endowment of the Arts because of the controversial art it once funded.

``I think the NEA is a classic example that I would cite as an area that I learned and grew as a result of going through the process,'' Largent said

The NEA was forced to spread more of its grant money throughout the country and provide more control to the states.

``You could say Largent didn't win because the NEA is still getting $100 million,'' he said. ``I don't look at it that way. I look at it as we both won.''

As for the same-sex marriage controversy, Largent said he eventually came to like his opponent on the issue, Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, a Democrat who is gay.

``I think there's a different between disagreeing with somebody's opinion and questioning their motives,'' Largent said.

As far as projects for the 1st District, which covers Tulsa County and part of Wagoner County, Largent was unapologetic for not focusing on those.

``The First District got money, but I don't think the district sent me to Washington to be a pork-barrel politician,'' said Largent, who once refused to accept highway money for his district because he disagreed with the way it was allocated.

While he may be proud of his congressional record, political opponents may use it against him.

Jay Parmley, chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said Largent's congressional record shows that he is a do-nothing ideologue who has been more interested in raising money for his party than representing his district.

``He really hasn't done anything for Tulsa specifically,'' Parmley said, adding Largent traded on his name as a former football star to become a national player in Republican politics.

``He only talks about the hot-button issues. He really doesn't seem to talk about anything that matters to Tulsa.''

Largent said he is ready for the criticism and scrutiny now that he is running for governor.

``Having lived in the public arena, in that fishbowl, for most of my adult life, I think I am prepared for it as anybody can be,'' he said.