Global Warming Trip Hit Tourist Hot Spots

By Brody Mullins and T.W. Farnam/The Wall Street Journal ~ When 10 members of Congress wanted to study climate change, they did more than just dip their toes into the subject: They went diving and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. They also rode a cable car through the Australian rain forest, visited a penguin rookery and flew to the South Pole.

Congressman Frank Lucas, Wife Went On Trip

The 11-day trip -- with six spouses traveling along as well -- took place over New Year's 2008. Details are only now coming to light as part of a Wall Street Journal analysis piecing together the specifics of the excursion.

It's tough to calculate the travel bills racked up by members of Congress, but one thing's for sure: They use a lot of airplanes. In recent days, House of Representatives members allocated $550 million to upgrade the fleet of luxury Air Force jets used for trips like these -- even though the Defense Department says it doesn't need all the planes.

The South Pole trip, led by Rep. Brian Baird (D., Wash.), ranks among the priciest. The lawmakers reported a cost to taxpayers of $103,000.

That figure, however, doesn't include the actual flying, because the trip used the Air Force planes, not commercial carriers. Flight costs would lift the total tab to more than $500,000, based on Defense Department figures for aircraft per-hour operating costs.

Read the entire story at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124967502810515267.html.

Share |

Study: Boren Backs Obama At 81% Level

Democratic Congressman Dan Boren backed President Barack Obama 81 percent of the time in the president's first six months in office, according to a new study that said Obama is on pace for the most successful presidential year in recent history in terms of congressional support. The study is reported in today's The Oklahoman.

Republican Rep. Mary Fallin had the second-highest score in the Oklahoma congressional delegation in presidential support this year. She backed Obama's position 50 percent of the time.

The scores were compiled by Congressional Quarterly, whose publications cover Capitol Hill and national politics.

But the measurements of presidential support were based on relatively few votes.

According to CQ, the president took a position on only 26 votes cast by the House and 37 cast by the Senate.

One notable issue on which Fallin backed the president and broke from the majority of her party was on the bill allowing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco.

Among Oklahoma Republicans, Congressman Frank Lucas had the lowest presidential support score, at 27 percent. The others: Senator Tom Coburn, 33 percent; Congressman Tom Cole, 38 percent; Senator Jim Inhofe and Congressman John Sullivan, both 43 percent.

Share |

Lucas: Government-Run Health Care No Answer

There has been a growing sense of frustration in this country over the rising cost of health care, and this problem has recently been compounded by our ailing economy as Americans are losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet.

By Congressman Frank Lucas

I know there are many families in Oklahoma who currently do not have health insurance- making one sick child a potential family crisis. I host 50 town halls a year across the Third Congressional District, and when the topic of health care comes up, people consistently tell me they are happy with their doctor, their coverage, and their hospital, but are concerned about the cost and the accessibility, especially in more rural areas.

In a country as advanced as the United States, we should be able to provide quality health care coverage that is affordable and accessible to every American while preserving patients’ rights to select their own doctors, their own health care coverage, and their own courses of treatment. However, a government run health care system, like the one currently being drafted by congressional Democrats, will not provide this.

The system they are discussing will use a “public option”- one that is similar to the systems used in Canada or France. And while those systems might do a good job of meeting routine needs for their citizens, like taking their blood pressure or providing vaccines, they ration treatment for more severe problems creating a backlog of patients waiting for treatments. For that reason, you have Canadians traveling in to the United States to pay out of their pockets for expensive treatments, like MRIs, because they can’t afford to wait to receive them.

Under the proposed “public option” plan, Speaker Pelosi and President Obama will take our health care system, a system that is the most effective, efficient, and innovative in the world, and turn it inside out. While there are issues within our system that need to be addressed, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Right now, this country is running a deficit of over $11 trillion, and that number is expected to continue to climb once President Obama’s appropriations packages are passed in Congress. So, in order to pay for this estimated $1 trillion plan, they will dramatically increase taxes on all Americans, including those who are already struggling to pay for their own health care, as well as struggling to put dinner on the table.

Simply put, this is not good policy. We need to refocus our efforts to make changes in our health care system that are efficient and cost-effective, while continuing to ensure that patients come first, that the doctor-patient relationship is not disrupted by bureaucrats in Washington, and that health care treatments are never rationed out by government officials.

Share |

Lucas Named Co-chair Of Rural Solutions Group

Congressman Frank Lucas announced today he will serve as a co-chair of a new group charged with the task of addressing issues facing rural America.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) created the Rural America Solutions Group.

Lucas along with two other Committee Ranking Republicans, Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), will serve as co-chairs.

President Obama promised to hold a summit on rural issues within his first 100 days in office, but has not done so.

The Rural America Solutions Group will focus on solutions that create jobs and economic opportunities as well as address the unique challenges rural communities face.

Share |

Frankly Speaking: Obama's Religious Beliefs

I was disturbed to discover that President Obama requested the religious symbols in Gaston Hall, most notably the inscription “IHS” that symbolizes the name Jesus, at Georgetown University be covered during his economic address earlier this week.

By Congressman Frank Lucas

This follows his comments in 2007 that America is “no longer a Christian nation.”

While the President continues to quote the scripture and reference his faith, it seems the White House is subtly attempting to remove God from our every day lives.

Georgetown University is a Catholic institution, founded by the Jesuits. Their heritage, much like ours, is based in religion and on religious doctrine. We are, after all, a nation founded on the principle that we are one nation, under God. And I, for one, am proud of that.

Georgetown University should not be forced to hide their religious beliefs in order to appease the President, just as the people of this country should not be forced to hide their religious beliefs in order to appease liberal interest groups determined to impose their anti-religion stance on the entire country.

The Founding Fathers had no intention of removing religion from our lives. In fact, many religious tenants are the backbone of our Constitution. Instead they wanted to ensure that we were all able to worship God as we pleased. How dismayed they would be to learn that our nation’s leader has taken to covering the name Jesus Christ at a Jesuit university.

Whether the President agrees with me or not, I still believe that we are a Christian nation- one nation, under God.

Share |

Congressman Frank Lucas: Frankly Speaking

Yesterday, Congress passed H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act. Supporters hope this legislation will restore liquidity in the housing market and assist those homeowners who are in foreclosure. While this is a lofty goal, the bill just passed may not achieve it.

There are certain aspects of the bill that I can support. For example, permanently raising the FDIC insurance limit from $100,000 to $250,000 will provide additional assurances that our banks are safe, which will encourage investment.

On first blush, it may appear that giving judges this power will be helpful, however the long-term results are unsettling. The most troublesome provision grants bankruptcy judges the power to write down the principle on a mortgage while lowering the interest rate and extending the terms. Known as “cramdown,” this provision would cause mortgage interest rates for the average American consumer to skyrocket, making homeownership harder for all Americans. Compounding this problem, cramdowns will be costly to investors who have invested in mortgage-backed securities and will cause them to demand a higher interest rate on all further mortgages. The result is grim: in a time when we need to restore confidence and liquidity to the housing market, this bill will actually discourage investment and decrease lending, perpetuating the current freeze on credit.

I am sympathetic to those Americans who are struggling with their mortgage payments. However, approximately 90 percent of homeowners are paying their mortgages on time. The federal government cannot continue to bailout the irresponsible choices of a few at the cost of many. Americans are suffering from bailout fatigue. It is time for Congress to come up with serious solutions to the serious problems we are facing instead of continuing to throw money we don’t have at every problem that presents itself.

Share |

Lucas Names Scott To Ag Committee Post

Congressman Frank Lucas has named Nicole Scott the new Republican Staff Director of the House Agriculture Committee.

Scott moves from Lucas’ personal office, where she served as his agriculture advisor for the last 10 years. Lucas took the reins as the Republican leader of the committee last week, replacing Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-06).

“I am pleased to announce Ms. Scott’s new role as the Republican Staff Director of the Agriculture Committee,” stated Lucas. “Nicole has been a valuable member of my staff for the last ten years, and I know that her knowledge and experience will serve the committee well.”

She comes to the committee after serving as Lucas’ Deputy Chief of Staff for eight years. Prior to that, Scott served as his Legislative Director for one year. Scott was hired after serving as a legislative assistant for former Congressman J.C. Watts for three years.

Share |

Lucas Named To Additional Committees

Congressman Frank Lucas has been appointed to serve as a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Science and Technology. In addition, last month he was appointed to serve as the Republican leader of the House Committee on Agriculture.

Share |

Lucas Named As GOP Ag Committee Leader

Congressman Frank Lucas was named today as the Republican Leader of the House Committee on Agriculture. He succeeds Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who was required to step down by Republican Conference rules after three terms as his party’s leader on the Agriculture Committee, serving two as Chairman.

“As a life-long farmer in the great state of Oklahoma, it is a great honor for me to be selected to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture,” Lucas stated. “I look forward to my new role and will strive to work together with Chairman Petersen and the entire committee to resolve the challenges facing America’s ranchers and farmers.”

As the Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee, Lucas will serve as a policy leader for all areas of the committee’s jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the House Agriculture Committee includes oversight of USDA and its various agencies and programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Disaster Assistance, Rural Development, Livestock Compensation, and Crop Insurance and Food Safety. In addition, the committee has jurisdiction over the Food and Drug Administration and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.

Share |

Lucas Defends Galapagos Islands Trip

Congressman Frank Lucas today is defending a trip to the Galapagos Islands after the television news show Inside Edition called it "the trip of a lifetime on your dime."

Lucas, a Republican, was among five Republican and Democratic members of the House Committee on Science and Technology who went to the islands in June to learn about climate change, ocean acidification, El Nino, maritime reserves protection and research funded by the National Science Foundation.

"I know the story painted it all in pretty picturesque terms, but the bottom line is that it was more work oriented," Lucas said Tuesday. "It was a good use of resources to verify how U.S. taxpayer dollars are being spent."

Lucas, who took his wife on the trip, said he reimbursed the government for his wife's expenses.

Share |

Cole, Fallin, Lucas Explain Rescue Bill Votes

Congressman Tom Cole said today his vote for the financial rescue bill is one he will have to defend for the rest of his political life.

In a statement, Cole said, "Lyndon Johnson used to say, 'doing the right thing isn't hard, knowing the right thing to do is.' Over the past few weeks I have questioned whether passing this bill is the right thing to do. But I believe that without immediate action the stock market will take a nose dive, credit will freeze up and economic activity will grind to a halt. I am not willing to gamble the jobs, life savings, retirement accounts, the homes and the businesses of the people I represent. We cannot risk the global, political and social turmoil that will surely occur if there is a severe and prolonged recession or depression in the United States."

Congresswoman Mary Fallin, who voted no on the earlier version but voted yes today, issued a statement in which she said, “Passing this bill was an extraordinary and difficult thing to do, but I believe it was the only way of getting our economy back on track. In moving forward, we must look to additional measures that ensure the American people are never again put in this position. Congress retains oversight of this plan and control of the purse strings, and I intend to ensure that we exercise that authority to protect taxpayers. Congress should also work in a bipartisan fashion to install new and workable safeguards against the kind of irresponsible lending practices engaged in by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and other institutions which contributed to this crisis. Only by permanently putting an end to the bad practices that got us here in the first place can we guarantee this crisis does not repeat itself.”

Congressman Frank Lucas, who voted no earlier and the same way today, said, "Today, I voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This was one of the toughest decisions I have made in my 14 years as a United States Congressman, and I know that many of my constituents will be disappointed with my vote. They, like myself, are concerned about the state of our economy and the impact the turmoil on Wall Street may have on their retirement savings, pension fund, or even bank account. However, as concerned as I am about our economy, the cost and significance of this bill coupled with the haste in which it was crafted was of greater concern to me."

Share |

Lucas Opposes Bailout Bill

Congressman Frank Lucas said today he opposed the bailout bill because, “I am concerned about the current state of our financial system. However, the constituents of the Third Congressional District spoke loud and clear over the last week in opposition to the proposed rescue plan, and I am here to represent their voice in Congress. I await the development of other proposals to address the crisis our financial markets are facing.”

Share |

Lucas Due On Fox With Cavuto Tonight

Congressman Frank Lucas will appear on FOX Business as a guest of Neil Cavuto this evening to discuss the recent turmoil in the financial markets and the steps Congress and the federal government plan to take to correct the problems. The program begins at 6:00pm EDT. Lucas will appear at approximately 6:15pm.

Share |

Fallin, Lucas Cite Victory For Gun Owners

Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Congressman Frank Lucas were among those who voted today to restore gun rights to Washington, D.C., requiring the city to comply with the Second Amendment and a recent Supreme Court ruling. The bill they supported, which passed with a bipartisan majority, forces the District of Columbia to eliminate a series of restrictions on gun ownership which have effectively banned handguns within the nation’s capitol.

Fallin called the vote a “victory for gun owners and a victory for the Constitution.” She urged the Senate to take up the bill quickly and for the president to sign it into law.

“Owning a gun for self-defense and sport is one of the fundamental rights enjoyed by all Americans,” said Fallin. “It has been a longstanding outrage that here in our nation’s capitol a web of intrusive regulations and legal hurdles has essentially done away with that right. I am pleased that Congress took action today to restore this basic freedom and guarantee the Constitution and our rights are not trampled.”

Lucas said the measure emphasizes the importance of the 2nd Amendment and upholds the long-standing right of Americans to own firearms.

Share |

Lucas Opposes Foreclosure Prevention Act

Congressman Frank Lucas today refused to support H.R. 3221, the “Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008,” a bill that spends billions of taxpayer dollars bailing out lenders and borrowers who made risky decisions in the housing market.

Lucas said the current bill contains several troubling provisions, including one that extends an unlimited line of credit from the U.S. Treasury to the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in an effort to reinstall confidence in them, and another provision that creates a permanent Affordable Housing Trust Fund which takes funding away from them.

“At a time when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are having financial difficulties, why are we diverting their funds to finance this Affordable Housing Trust Fund?” asked Lucas. “If we truly believe that these companies are in need of a bailout from the federal government, we should not be siphoning money from them to fund yet another unnecessary housing program.”

Share |

Lucas Praises Ag Secretary's Decision

Congressman Frank Lucas applauded Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer’s decision today to declare nine counties in Oklahoma primary disaster areas and five counties in Oklahoma contiguous disaster areas due to the severe drought that has hit the state. This follows a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) earlier this month that granted a contiguous disaster designation to Texas and Cimarron counties in the panhandle of Oklahoma.

Share |

Lucas Praises Bush On Offshore Drilling

Third District Congressman Frank Lucas said today that President Bush has "made big step forward" with his call for lifting the ban on offshore drilling.

“The president has made a big step forward towards decreasing that pain at the pump that all Americans are feeling,” said Lucas. “Now it’s time for Congress to do the same by lifting the congressional restrictions on offshore drilling.”

Congressional restrictions began in 1982 through restricted Department of Interior appropriations, such as denying necessary funds to lease offshore areas to oil and gas companies. For this reason, both the congressional and executive bans must be lifted in order to access the oil under the Outer Continental Shelf, which is estimated at billions of barrels.

“Increasing American-made energy, both in traditional and alternative sources, will not only decrease the price at the pump and our dependency on foreign oil,” stated Lucas, “It will also encourage investment in the American economy, help to create jobs, and promote research and discovery in renewable fuels.”

Lucas has been a supporter of increasing American energy production, including his cosponsorship of legislation that would allow offshore drilling, improve and increase oil refining capacity, and encourage the research and development of alternative energy sources.

Share |

Lucas Hires New Press Secretary

Congressman Frank Lucas has hired South Carolina native Leslie Shedd to serve as his press secretary.

“I am delighted to welcome Leslie to the team,” Lucas stated. “Her experience and background will be a great addition to our office and I look forward to working with her.”

Shedd received her undergraduate degree from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, and recently graduated from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. She is the daughter of Pat and Madelyn Shedd of Greenville, South Carolina, where she grew up.

Before joining Lucas’ staff, Shedd served as the deputy press secretary to Congressman Brian Bilbray of California. In addition, while attending law school she interned in the Office of Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Office of the Vice President.

Share |

Lucas Files, Draws Democrat Opponent

Congressman Frank Lucas, R-3rd District, filed for reelection today and drew an unknown Democrat as an opponent.

Lucas, 49, is from Cheyenne. The Democrat who filed is Frankie Robbins, 62, of Medford.

Congressman John Sullivan, R-1st District, also filed for reelection. Sullivan, 43, is from Tulsa.

Share |

Lucas Names Stacy Buck As Field Rep

Congressman Frank D. Lucas has hired Stacy Buck to serve as his field representative for a six-county area of his 3rd Congressional District in north-central Oklahoma.

Buck began work this week as Lucas' field representative. She is based out of the Congressman’s Yukon office and covers six of Lucas’ 32-county district. Her field area includes Grant, Garfield, Kingfisher, Canadian, Kay and Noble counties.

Buck is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Agricultural Communications. While at OSU, she served as an intern for the American Lung Association and for Oklahoma AgrAbility.

Share |