Inhofe's housing plan vote is panned

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe on Thursday voted against a bill aimed at addressing the housing crisis, and his Democratic opponent in this year's Senate race criticized him for his position.

Inhofe, R-Tulsa, and Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, were among the 12 senators who opposed the bill; 84 senators voted for it.

Inhofe said the bill contained an "unacceptable and inappropriate” bailout for banks.

State Sen. Andrew Rice, an Oklahoma City Democrat who is running against Inhofe this year, said the bill was a bipartisan effort to address a major problem in the U.S. economy.

Rice said the bill wasn't perfect but noted that most of the Senate had come together to break a deadlock that stalled the bill earlier this year; but, he noted, Inhofe was one of only six senators who voted Tuesday to block action on the bill.

The bill has been criticized by some as providing more relief to the housing industry than homeowners.

Rice said foreclosures have skyrocketed in Oklahoma and that Inhofe was turning his back on the problem.

Inhofe said state's foreclosure rates, while rising, were still below the national average.

"When the Senate began considering housing legislation, I had hoped this could be an opportunity for Congress to help begin stabilizing the housing markets, rather than merely an opportunity to score political points in an election year,” Inhofe said.