Weekly Columns

Before the coronavirus pandemic, our economy was strong. President Biden and House Democrats inherited an economy that was poised to return to its peak. In 2020, the average rate of inflation was only around 1.2% and gas and utility costs were affordable. Sadly, that is no longer the reality for our nation’s economy. After two years under Democrat control of Washington, inflation is at a 40-year high, gas prices are up more than 60%, and our supply chains are still disrupted.

A core responsibility of our government is to provide safety and security to the American people. Concerningly, Democrats in Washington have not only ignored this critical duty but have actively made our nation less safe. The southern border is wide open, crime rates have reached record highs, and the U.S. has suffered on the world stage from the President’s weak foreign policy. Luckily, Republicans have a plan.

The policies pushed by Democrat rule in Washington have stifled our foundational freedoms by imposing top-down, one-size-fits-all government approaches. The negative impacts of these restrictive policies have trickled down on everyday American families. Through nearly two years of committee and task force work, we have identified practical policy proposals that ensure our freedoms are protected as exemplified in our Commitment to America.

Under one party rule in Washington, the federal government has been focused on pushing an out of touch agenda. Democrats throughout Washington have made policy decisions that supersede authority – utilizing procedural gimmicks, executive orders, and new executive agency rules. In Congress, Democrats are forcing partisan legislation, many times with zero Republican input and without proper committee consideration. With no accountability for their actions, Americans are losing faith in their government system.

Since Democrats took control of Washington, this country has taken a sharp left turn. Our nation has experienced rampant inflation, a wide-open border, and endless government spending. Sadly, it’s the American people, and my fellow Oklahomans, who are bearing the brunt of these crippling policy decisions.

The situation at the southern border has hit yet another historic milestone. For the first time in our nation’s history, the U.S. Mexico border has surpassed 2 million crossings for a single fiscal year, with still one more month left. To put things into perspective, that is over half the population of the state of Oklahoma. This massive influx is a direct result of the Biden Administration’s open-border policies that have incentivized illegal crossings, and there have been dangerous consequences as a result.

This week marked 21 years since America was changed forever. Our way of life will always be thought of as before and after the devastating day of September 11, 2001. Americans watched and endured the pure evil that attacked our nation and took thousands of innocent lives. Our nation prevailed, overcoming extreme loss and pain.

Executive orders are issued by the White House and are used to direct the executive branch of the government. Essentially, executive orders have the effect of laws and are supposed to be used strictly in relation to a law passed by Congress or based on powers granted to the President in the Constitution. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the most executive orders with 3721, followed by Woodrow Wilson with 1,803.