Political Pulse

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Some House and Senate leaders have drawn
low ratings for their votes by a group that advocates for more
protections for health care consumers and nursing home residents.
The 2008 Legislature drew an overall rating of “average” from
the Oklahoma Foundation for Consumer and Patient rights.
The group cited the defeat of bills to require insurance
coverage for children with autism and for seriously ill patients
who undergo clinical trials and legislation to require nursing
homes to carry liability insurance.
Several House and Senate members voted only about half the time
for issues backed by the group.
Rep. Ken Luttrell, a Ponca City Democrat, had the only 100
percent score.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Republican Congressman Tom Cole says he
voted for a 700 billion dollar financial bailout package and is
disappointed the plan failed.
The U.S. House voted 228-205 against the bailout with Cole and
Congressman Dan Boren voting for it.
Representatives Mary Fallin, John Sullivan and Frank Lucas voted
against it.
Cole says he’s convinced the plan is the right thing for
America’s economy.
And Senator Tom Coburn issued a statement supporting the
proposal and says the nation faces a potential financial
catastrophe.
Meanwhile University of Oklahoma president and former Senator
David Boren sent e-mails to Fallin, Sullivan and Lucas asking them
to reconsider their votes.

The Democratic and Republican Vice-Presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin, square off at Washington University in St. Louis on Thursday in the first, and only, vice-presidential debate. The debate will be moderated by Gwen Ifill of PBS and will begin at 8:00 p.m. We will will air it on OETA, and will be blogging during the evening. So, be sure to watch and join the conversation on the Political Pulse blog.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma’s congressional delegation split
today on a $700 billion financial bailout package that failed in
the U.S. House.
Democrat Dan Boren and Republican Tom Cole voted for the bill
while Republicans Mary Fallin, Frank Lucas and John Sullivan voted
against it.
The measure failed on a 228-205 vote.
When the vote was counted too few members of the House were
apparently willing to back the unpopular bill just five weeks
before Election Day. Both Democrats and Republicans voted against
the measure.
The White House says President Bush is “very disappointed” and
will meet with advisers to decide what next steps should be taken.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Employees of the nation’s largest producer
of natural gas have given more than $100,000 to the Democratic
incumbent in the race for a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission.
An analysis of campaign contributions by the Tulsa World showed
that 82 employees of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp.
have given at least $1,000 to the campaign of Roth.
Roth will face Republican challenger Dana Murphy in November’s
election.
Last year, Roth joined Chesapeake in its opposition to a
proposed coal-fired power plant that would have been built near Red
Rock by two utilities. Roth and fellow Commissioner Jeff Cloud
voted to deny pre-approval of the plant.
Among the Chesapeake employees who have donated are the
company’s chairman and chief executive officer, Aubrey McClendon,
who gave $5,000, the maximum allowed by law.
Roth says he’s never had a contributor ask for anything in
return and they must know he would never get something if they
asked.