Oklahoma members of U.S. House support Republican budget plan

The GOP budget passed by a vote of 221 to 207, with all Democrats opposed. The Senate is considering its own budget blueprint this week.

Reps. Jim Bridenstine, R-Tulsa; Tom Cole, R-Moore; and James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, also voted for an alternative Republican budget on Wednesday that would cut spending more quickly and balance the budget in four years. That budget, which garnered just 104 votes, would also gradually raise the full retirement age for Social Security to 70 for those born in 1961 and later.

Cole said, “Passing a budget that balances in 10 years is a significant step that would have been impossible just a few years ago. The American people can now choose between a Senate Democratic budget that taxes more to pay for bigger government, or the House Republican budget based on the principle that taxpayers should not be punished for Washington's irresponsible spending.”

Lankford said, “The work on the House floor to debate and pass the (fiscal year 2014) House budget proposal is another step to put our nation back on solid economic footing and promote private-sector job growth.