Oklahma lawmakers expect Obamacare repeal, military build-up, conservative Supreme Court justice

Nov. 10--WASHINGTON -- Oklahoma lawmakers said Wednesday that Republican control of the White House and Congress next year should mean the repeal of Obamacare, a new conservative on the Supreme Court and more money for the military.

"We have an agenda," said U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore. "It's going to have to move. We have to accomplish some things that are positive for the American people."

Congressional Republicans have made repeal of the Affordable Care Act part of their identity, voting dozens of times to repeal all or parts of the law known as Obamacare.

The effort may get a boost next year from widespread concern about rapidly rising premiums for policies purchased on the federal exchanges.

"It's got to happen," Cole said.

Republicans used the budget process last year to pass a repeal bill and get around a Democratic filibuster. President Barack Obama vetoed that bill. President-elect Donald J. Trump is expected to sign a repeal bill.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, said, "I would assume it would be addressed very, very quickly."

However, he said the budget won't be passed until April, meaning it would be a few months before a repeal bill could make it to the White House as part of the budget. After that, he said, it could take many months to unwind insurance company contracts.

More immediate, he said, will be the rollback of recent regulations and a Supreme Court nominee to succeed the late Antonin Scalia, a conservative who died in February. Obama nominated appeals court Judge Merrick Garland to succeed Scalia, but Senate Republicans refused to consider the nomination.

Lankford, like many Republicans, was often uncomfortable defending Trump as the GOP presidential nominee. But he maintained his support because of the future direction of the high court.

Lankford said he expects Trump to have a nomination made by Jan. 21, the day after the inauguration.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, also expressed relief on Wednesday that Trump would be filling the high court vacancy.

Inhofe cited recent close decisions on issues involving executive branch actions, including the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act and the executive order to defer the deportation of about 4 million illegal immigrants; the Obama administration lost both cases.

Inhofe, who criticized Obama for years over declining military budgets, is optimistic that Trump will keep his campaign promise to boost Defense Department funding.

"The military will be one big beneficiary of last night's elections," Inhofe said.

Oklahoma has five major military installations.

Cole said there could also be efforts to approve corporate tax reform and shore up Medicare and Social Security.

Cole said Trump and congressional Republicans had combined for "an amazing victory."

"Going forward, the question is what we are going to do with this because we've been given a great opportunity," he said.

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