Oklahoma Congressional Delegation Divided On Debt Ceiling Bill Compromise

As President Biden prepares to sign the debt ceiling bill, Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation remains split on the compromise the President said averted an economic crisis.

It passed the House and Senate, with Oklahoma's vote split, 4 in favor and 3 against. Usually Oklahoma's all Republican congressional delegation votes alike, with one, or two at the most splitting off.

“I looked at the measure,” said 2nd District Representative Josh Brecheen, “My ‘no’ vote was because of a missed opportunity to match the size of our problem with the size of our solutions.”

Brecheen was speaking at a town hall meeting Friday night in Rogers County.

“I cannot in good conscience say that was a good 'meet you in the middle' compromise, and it's not enough to start changing the trajectory of a country that's headed off a fiscal cliff and overspending by $1.5 trillion this year,” he said.

Tulsa Representative Kevin Hern was an architect of the Republican spending proposal in the House, and he voted against the compromise.

President Biden praised the passage as a bipartisan deal that was necessary to avoid a default.

“It was critical to reach an agreement, and it's good news for the American people. No one got what they wanted, but the American people got what they needed. We averted an economic crisis, an economic collapse,” President Biden said in an address to the nation Friday.

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford voted against it, while Senator Markwayne Mullin voted for it. Representatives Stephanie Bice, Tom Cole and Frank Lucas voted for it, while Kevin Hern and Josh Brecheen voted against.

“Is this bill perfect? Heck no, not even close, but sometimes you've got to play the cards that are dealt," Senator Mullin said.

The debt ceiling deal creates room for federal spending to continue until after the next presidential election.

Representative Brecheen said Friday that was too much of a delay to address spending.