July 26, 2025

Henryetta Free Lance
Login Subscribe Advertisers
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
News
June 19, 2019
Different results for two proposals from delegation members

WASHINGTON – Two members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation saw floor action this week on their legislation, and House members cast a significant vote in the on-going battle between Democrats and

WASHINGTON – Two members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation saw floor action this week on their legislation, and House members cast a significant vote in the on-going battle between Democrats and President Trump over congressional oversight into the Russia Investigation.

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) won Senate approval of his bill to require agencies to come up with 100-word plain language summaries to explain their rules to Americans.

Passed by unanimous consent, Lankford’s bill went to the House.

“Oklahomans do not read hundreds of pages of inside-the-Beltway jargon in the Federal Register before breakfast just to find out whether there’s some new obscure regulation that affects their small business,” he said in explaining S. 395, the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act.

Over on the House side, a floor vote rejected an amendment by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK4) to save from Democratic language a “conscience protections” rule keeping medical personnel and others from being required to participate in procedures that run counter to their personal beliefs such as abortions, sterilizations and assisted suicides.

Cole warned the “poison pill” language will keep the underlying appropriations bill from ever becoming law. Supporters of his effort also argued the rule is not about forcing religious beliefs on others but not forcing medical providers to give up their own beliefs.

Opponents said the Trump administration’s rule would expand existing law that already provide such protections for hospitals and individuals and allow care to be refused for any reason.

They cited women and transgender individuals as examples of those who could be denied critical health care.

Cole’s amendment was rejected in a 192-230 vote with Reps. Kevin Hern (R-OK1), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK2) and Frank Lucas (R-OK3) voting for his amendment and Rep. Kendra Horn (D-OK5) voting against it.

House authorizes subpoena enforcement

In the battle between Democrats and Trump on the Russia investigation, the House delivered a party-line 229-191 vote to authorize the House Judiciary Committee to seek enforcement of subpoenas issued to Attorney General William Barr and former White House Counsel Don McGahn.

“This Congress is being tested, in this case, not by a foreign adversary but by our own president,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), chairman of the House Rules Committee and sponsor of the resolution.

McGovern accused Trump of unprecedented obstruction and stonewalling, quoting the president’s own words that his administration is fighting all subpoenas to keep people from testifying.

“Never before,” he said, “has a president from either party so flagrantly ignored Congress’ constitutional oversight authority and our nation’s separation of powers.”

Cole, the top Republican on the Rules Committee, accused Democrats of taking unprecedented action by rushing the vote on McGovern’s resolution without exhausting all other options.

Once the matter gets into a court, he warned, it will do so under an untested legal theory that could lead to a “dangerous precedent” that “harms all of us – Republicans and Democrats – in the long run.”

Cole urged the House to slow down and continue working with the administration to reach a resolution and avoid “a knee-jerk lawsuit that may damage the House as an institution.”

He was joined by Hern, Mullin and Lucas in voting against the resolution while Horn supported it.

Lankford, Cole, Horn and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) weighed in on the administration’s plan to house unaccompanied immigrant children who entered the U.S. illegally at Fort Sill, near Lawton.

Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed confidence after speaking to administration and local base officials that the decision will not have an adverse impact on the military mission at the huge Army post.

Recalling similar action by the Obama administration several years ago, Lankford said he has toured the facility at Fort Sill and described it as a safe environment.

Cole, whose district includes Fort Sill, said he will monitor the situation at the post to ensure the operation goes smoothly.

Horn, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed appreciation for the involvement of the troops at Fort Sill in upholding the highest standards of humane treatment and ensuring the nation’s security.

The lawmakers also spoke of the need for action on immigration.

Gaylord News is a Washington reporting project of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma.

Patrons Bank warns community of rising phone scams
A: Main, Lifestyle...
Patrons Bank warns community of rising phone scams
July 25, 2025
Patrons Bank is urging the community to be on high alert as phone scams targeting bank customers continue to rise across the country - and right here at home.Scammers are spoofing legitimate bank phon...
this is a test
Christmas in July is today
A: Main, Main...
Christmas in July is today
July 25, 2025
Downtown Henryetta is set to come alive with holiday spirit and summer sunshine today, as the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce presents its annual “Christmas in July” celebration. The event, scheduled fr...
this is a test
A: Main
Back-to-School excitement builds
July 25, 2025
As summer winds down and the school year quickly approaches, Henryetta Public Schools and Dewar Public Schools are rolling out the red carpet for students and families with a series of exciting back-t...
this is a test
Main Street Crossing Temporarily Closed
A: Main
Main Street Crossing Temporarily Closed
July 25, 2025
The City of Henryetta has announced that the Main Street railroad crossing is currently closed to all traffic. Residents needing to cross the tracks are encouraged to use the Trudgeon Street crossing ...
this is a test
Sales Tax Holiday returns Aug. 1-3
A: Main
Sales Tax Holiday returns Aug. 1-3
July 25, 2025
Shoppers across Okmulgee County and throughout the state will soon get a much-needed break on back-to-school expenses, as Oklahoma’s annual Sales Tax Holiday kicks off Friday, Aug. 1, and runs through...
this is a test
A: Main
Historical Museum open Saturday
July 25, 2025
The Henryetta Historical Museum continues to welcome guests through its doors this summer with its special every-other-weekend schedule - and this Saturday is no exception. The museum will be open Jul...
this is a test

e-Edition
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
News
OCEM Report
July 25, 2025
This report is a summary of activities Okmulgee County Emergency Management participated in and does not reflect all activities performed by or participated in by Okmulgee County Emergency Management....
this is a test
Plans underway for Okmulgee County Fair
News
Plans underway for Okmulgee County Fair
July 25, 2025
Planning is in full swing for the much-anticipated 2025 Okmulgee County Fair, with the event officially set to take place Sept. 4-6 at the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds.Members of the Fair Volunteer Com...
this is a test
Lions Club celebrates new members, history and upcoming events
News
Lions Club celebrates new members, history and upcoming events
July 25, 2025
The Henryetta Lions Club held a lively and productive meeting on Thursday, July 17, at The Shack 2.0, welcoming new members, celebrating local heritage and preparing for several key community events o...
this is a test
News
Preston Schools announces Child Nutrition Program
July 25, 2025
Preston Public Schools announced they are participating in free lunch and/or breakfast program for the 2026 school year. All students enrolled in the district or the listed sites may participate in th...
this is a test
News
OCA All-State Week festivities are July 26-31
July 25, 2025
The Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) is gearing up for its annual All-State events, set to take place from Saturday, July 26 through Thursday, July 31. Athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts from...
this is a test
Facebook

HENRYETTA FREE-LANCE
208 E. Main Street
Henryetta, OK 74437

918.652.3311

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2022 Henryetta Free-Lance

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy