Sullivan Tapped To Raise GOP Funds

Today, Tulsa Congressman John Sullivan announced that House Speaker John Boehner and NRCC Chairman Pete Session (R-TX) tapped him to serve as a co-chairman of the annual National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee fundraising dinner in March 2012. 

Sullivan will join colleagues Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Candice Miller (R-MI) to lead the most significant fundraising effort the 2012 election cycle for House Republicans.

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Kathy Taylor: Decisions, Decisions

The Kathy Taylor guessing game is in full swing.

The outgoing mayor of Tulsa, it is rumored, will (1) certainly run for the U. S. Senate against incumbent Republican Tom Coburn, (2) likely run for attorney general given that it's an open seat race, or (3) consider running for state school superintendent for the same reason.

All this speculation, of course, has insiders in both political parties scratching their heads.

Many presumed that when Taylor reversed course and announced she would not seek reelection as mayor after first saying she would, she would take on troubled 1st District Republican Congressman John Sullivan. But one insider swears up and down that Taylor personally told Sullivan she wouldn't run against him and has ruled that race out.

Several Democrats claim Taylor has her eye firmly on Coburn's Senate seat. One, asked if he thinks the liberal Taylor has a chance against the conservative Coburn, said no, but added, "If you've got a million of your own dollars to spend...." His point is well-taken. Taylor and her wealthy husband have wads of cash she could use to propel a campaign and even in these days of gazillion-dollar campaigns, a million is a lot of cash.

Some GOP conservatives salivate at the thought of Taylor being the Democratic nominee against Coburn.

"He'd flatten her," said one diehard GOP activist and party leader in Tulsa. "She'd do okay here probably, but around the state, she'd be toast."

He bases his analysis on the belief that Taylor's membership in New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" group, and her other liberal tendencies, would result in a "Guns, God and Gays" backlash against her in most parts of the state.

Others aren't so certain about that, but one Democrat in southern Oklahoma said her bigger problem will be name identification: "Who the hell is Kathy Taylor?" he asked, after admitting he voted for Coburn. Told she could spend her own money to rectify her lack of statewide name ID, he said, "She'll need every penny of it."

"It'll just be another Inhofe-Rice race," said an Oklahoma City political observer of a possible Coburn-Taylor faceoff. "In that kind of race around here, the conservative always wins."

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Sullivan Fundraising Last In Delegation

By Jim Myers/Tulsa World Washington Bureau ~ U.S. Rep. John Sullivan's fundraising has lagged significantly behind Oklahoma's other incumbent congressmen, according to new reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The Republican lawmaker spent most of June at a California facility receiving treatment for alcohol addiction.

It was unclear how much Sullivan's absence affected his fundraising, but John Tidwell, a spokesman for the congressman's campaign, said it would be safe to make such a connection. A number of campaign donations were received in June.

Tidwell said a fundraiser was scheduled to be held soon after Sullivan's return from treatment, adding that some contributors sent their checks when told of that upcoming event.

"We've held several successful events since that filing deadline, and our current cash on hand is just under $140,000," Tidwell said.

According to Sullivan's FEC report, his campaign completed the quarter ending June 30 with $86,517 cash on hand. It raised $84,810, with $61,000 of that coming from special interest political action committees, or PACs.

Other incumbents raised almost twice as much as Sullivan, according to their FEC reports.

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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.

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Sullivan Says He'll Seek Another Term

Congressman John Sullivan, Tulsa Republican, says he will seek another term in office.

Sullivan has just returned to Washington after a one-month stay in a California treatment center for alcohol addiction, an event that spurred speculation he might opt not to seek reelection.

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Taylor Ready For 1st District Campaign?

Blogger Michael Bates in Tulsa suggests that Mayor Kathy Taylor, who announced last week she won't seek reelection, may be preparing for a congressional race next year, writing, "I'm still inclined to believe that Taylor is setting herself up to run against Congressman John Sullivan next year. It would look crass if she said anything now, while he's still in rehab, but if she waited until he returns -- beginning of July at the earliest -- it wouldn't leave much time before the city filing period for someone else to get ready to run. The 'I'm rising above politics to take care of the city' approach would get her out of the mayor's race, make room for someone else to get in, without seeming insensitive."

Read it all at www.batesline.com.

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Sullivan Granted Leave Of Absence

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, who is fighting alcohol addiction, officially requested a leave of absence from Congress on Tuesday for the balance of the month.

Submitted in writing by House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, the Oklahoma Republican’s request was granted without comment.

Sullivan’s request was the first official indication as to how long the 44-year-old lawmaker could be away from the House of Representatives as he seeks treatment for his alcohol addiction.

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Stunner: Sullivan Takes Leave From Congress, Enters California Alcohol Rehab Facility

Today, Congressman John Sullivan, R-1st District, released the following statement:

"Last night, I checked myself in to the Betty Ford Center in California to treat my addiction to alcohol.

"To ensure my success in this fight, I’ve decided to take a temporary leave of absence from Congress. I value my relationship with the citizens of Oklahoma’s First Congressional District, whom I am privileged and honored to have served for the past eight years. So, I wanted to be open and honest on this tough situation.

"I ask for your continued support and prayers as I face the challenges that lay ahead. I look forward to returning to serve and work for you in the House of Representatives as soon as possible.

"My family is going through a difficult time right now and I ask that you respect their privacy and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. With God’s help and strength, I will get through this most challenging time in my life."

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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.

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Rice, No-names File To Oppose Inhofe

Senator Andrew Rice, Oklahoma City Democrat, filed for the U.S. Senate today. He seeks to topple incumbent Republican Jim Inhofe.

Inhofe also drew two unknown Republican opponents in Dennis Lopez, 48, of Thackerville, who said he is running because God had called him to do so, and Evelyn Rogers, 55, of Tulsa. Lopez is a part-time Baptist minister and a machinist.

Also filing today were Congressman Tom Cole of the 4th District and John Sullivan of the 1st District.

Filing for 24 odd-numbered Senate seats, 101 House seats, Corporation Commission and Congress ends at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Capitol. Candidates for county offices filed at the local election board.

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Coburn, Sullivan Want Explanation From FEMA

Senator Tom Coburn and Congressman John Sullivan of Tulsa want the Federal Emergency Management Agency to explain how it makes disaster aid decisions, such as its denial of help to Oklahomans with uninsured losses in last month's ice storm. Coburn and Sullivan wrote FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison Thursday asking that the agency comply with a new law that seeks greater transparency in FEMA decisions.

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War Hero Ernest Childers Honored In Tulsa

U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), and U.S. Representative John Sullivan (R-Okla.), announced that legislation (H.R.366) designating the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient clinic in Tulsa the “Ernest Childers Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic” passed the Senate last night by Unanimous Consent. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June and is on its way to the President to be signed.

“Ernest Childers was the first Native American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Senator Inhofe said. “Fighting in Italy during World War II, Ernest Childers attacked and destroyed two enemy machine gun nests with a broken ankle and without any grenades, bravely risking his life above and beyond the call of duty. Later in life, Ernest Childers said, 'Take pride in what you do and be the best in what you do.’ Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Childers epitomizes the spirit of Oklahoma and I am glad he has received this well-deserved recognition.”

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Inhofe, Sullian Endorse Fred Thompson

U. S. Senator Jim Inhofe and 1st District Congressman John Sullivan today officially endorsed Fred Thompson for the Republican nomination for president. Inhofe and Thompson have been friends for years. Inhofe lauded Thompson's record and said he has the qualities needed in the next president.

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