D.C. Digest: Oklahoma House delegation touts GOP health insurance bill

On message: Oklahoma's all-Republican House delegation repeated the company line after voting for the GOP's Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which gets good marks from budget-watchers even if its title might be a little optimistic.

"Health care has become unaffordable for everyone," said 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern. "All Americans – whether they're on the exchange, an employer-sponsored plan, Medicare, or Medicaid – deserve better choices and lower premiums. This bill is a crucial step toward lowering prices, increasing transparency, and putting individuals in the driver's seat when selecting their health-care plan."

The bill includes several reforms, including Hern's incentives for employer-provided insurance options.

The bill does not extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits expiring on Dec. 31. Without the credits, out-of-pocket costs for ACA policyholders will rise sharply.

Republicans say extending the credits will only paper over fundamental problems they blame on the ACA itself.

"In stark contrast with the left's irresponsible proposal to extend COVID-era subsidies on top of the subsidies Obamacare already offers, this Republican solution offers a more productive and long-term fix to the health-care crisis," said 4th District Congressman Tom Cole.

Full speed ahead: U.S. Sens. Markwayne Mullin and James Lankford shrugged off polling indicating a substantial majority of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the economy.

"Everything is moving in the right direction," Mullin told ABC News after Trump's televised Wednesday night speech. "I think the president made a very strong case for that. I think a lot of times the people need to be reminded of where we came from, the last four years of the disastrous economic policies from the Biden administration."

Lankford said much the same on Newsmax.

"What President Trump came out to say last night was, you feel the difference that's happening now," Lankford said.

"There will be a very definite feeling that things have shifted on this as we go into next year," said Lankford.

The senators noted that tax cuts are coming, the inflation rate is down and motor fuel prices are lower. About 1.9 million jobs have been added in the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Left unsaid was that analysts expect the income tax cuts to be more than offset by the cost of tariffs and job growth is not keeping pace with the workforce.

About 1 million more people are unemployed than were a year ago, and the unemployment rate is creeping steadily higher — which some interpret as signaling an economic downturn.

Mullin, though, was confident.

"We're moving in the right direction. We've made a lot of gains in a very short 11 months. … The business environment we're in, compared to the last four years, I'd say is definitely an A+."

NDAA nod: Mullin and U.S. Sen. James Lankford joined the Senate majority that sent the National Defense Authorization Act to Trump last week.

The bill includes $670.3 million for the state's military installations, including almost $500 million for land acquisition and construction at Tinker Air Force Base.

The bill also authorizes $3 million for cybersecurity research at the University of Tulsa.

Shutdown shuffle: Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said he wants to pass one "minibus" spending bill a week ahead of the Jan. 30 deadline to avoid another shutdown.

"We're not trying to jam anybody," Cole told Punchbowl News. "There's a lot of raw feelings after the shutdown. We're trying to restore the trust inside the committee."

Bernie block: Mullin blasted Vermont independent Bernie Sanders after Sanders prevented unanimous consent approval of a measure intended to restore funding for child cancer research.

Sanders' maneuver, in an effort to get more Republican concessions on health care, meant the bill could not get a vote before Congress recessed until next year.

"I think it's dead wrong to think that someone is willing to hold hostage a child who's fighting for their life that simply wants to have an opportunity to try an experimental drug that may extend their life one week, one day, or may even cure it," Mullin said on the Senate floor.

Non-announcement announcements: The two longest-serving members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation, Cole and 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas, indicated they expect to run for reelection next year.

Cole, first elected in 2002, told NOTUS he is "certainly preparing like I'm planning to run."

Lucas, who went to Congress after winning a special election in 1994, told the same news site he'd be "incredibly surprised" if he isn't a candidate for a 17th full term.

Reiner murders: Oklahoma's Republican leaders were largely silent about Trump's controversial social post regarding the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner, but 5th District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice replied to it with a mild rebuke on her personal X account.

"A father and mother were murdered at the hands of their troubled son," she wrote "We should be lifting the family up in prayer, not making this about politics."

Mullin, meanwhile, defended Trump's remarks as "respectful."

"I don't think they're controversial," Mullin told CNN. "He was respectful to him, said he was once a really good actor and all that. And pointed out the fact that he didn't like him at all, but wished him, you know, ended the text fine," Mullin told CNN. "You guys make out at what you want. I didn't think it was distasteful at all.

"It's no secret, the guy does not like President Trump. President Trump went up and still did it in a very nice way,"

Odds 'n ends: Lankford was among 22 Senate Republicans signing a strongly worded letter opposing Trump's executive order relisting marijuana as a Schedule III instead of a Schedule I drug. … Concerning mid-term elections, Lucas told Semafor: "If my fellow Republicans in Congress can play as a team, and if administration officials can be smart about their actions, this is going to turn out just fine. Neither of those two things are certain."

Second District Congressman Josh Brecheen and Bice were among 134 House members signing a memo in support of lifting sanctions against Syria providing the new regime there protect religious and ethnic minorities. … Mullin blocked legislation requiring the Department of Defense to release video of the second strike on a disabled Venezuelan boat. … Oklahoma's delegation went all in for the SPEED Act, which would accelerate environmental permitting of energy projects, as it passed the House. … Bice, as chair of a subcommittee on modernization and innovation in House operations, urged members to incorporate artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in constituent services and engagement. … Trump signed legislation renaming the Guthrie post office for Medal of Honor recipient and long-time postal employee Oscar J. Upham, a Marine decorated for his service during China's Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901. … Mullin and New Mexico Democrat Martin Heinrich reintroduced legislation to promote buffalo herds on tribal land.