News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
Tom Cole’s Bipartisan Reputation Gets Put to the Test in Trump’s Partisan Washington
If you ask lawmakers to describe Rep. Tom Cole and his more than 20 years of service in the House, Republicans and Democrats will both give him praise. Knowledgeable. A bipartisan negotiator. A friend.
But for the last year as Appropriations chair, the Oklahoma Republican has overseen one of the most bitter and partisan processes lawmakers have ever gone through while exercising Congress’ power of the purse. And Democrats are concerned this upcoming appropriations cycle will somehow be more bitter and partisan than the last.
Along with so many other norms, President Donald Trump has upended the practice of reaching across the aisle — particularly when it comes to appropriations bills. Lawmakers used to come together at the end of the year and approve a sweeping spending bill, after they were mostly unable to pass individual appropriations measures.
But during the last spending cycle, Republicans and Democrats weren’t able to agree on anything. Instead, Republicans rammed through a glorified continuing resolution that mostly extended the previous spending deal, with some notable exceptions that Democrats disagreed with.
Now, as Congress starts the appropriations process again, Cole is tasked with appeasing his GOP colleagues and somehow getting buy-in from Democrats to negotiate after they were largely shut out of talks last time.
“I’ve never seen it quite as challenging as it is now to come to deals,” Cole told NOTUS.
“We’re better off when we work together and find common ground,” he said. “I think the [appropriations committee] has a tradition of doing that. I don’t think that tradition is gone. We’ve just got to get back to our roots.”
Getting back to those roots won’t be easy. But somehow, even after the appropriations process devolved into a cascade of CRs, a spending deal that was reneged, and, finally, a partisan spending bill, Democrats told NOTUS they have hope.
The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, suggested she blamed Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump and Elon Musk a lot more for the December spending deal falling apart than Cole. She said that legislation — which dissolved when Musk and some Republicans began railing against the special projects in the deal — was the product of intense negotiations between the two parties.
“Oh my gosh, heavy negotiations,” DeLauro said.
She said she’s worked “very closely” and “very, very well” with her counterpart. Ultimately, however, Trump’s grip on the conference made Cole’s work not matter all that much.
“It was hard, you know, when we were that close,” DeLauro said. “I continue to negotiate with him, but he is a good friend, and somebody who gets it.”
She said Cole doesn’t have the leeway she has to push back against the president.
Cole, for his part, said Trump is “not an insignificant player” in any negotiations on Capitol Hill — he has to sign the bill after all. But what the administration wants is not the end-all-be-all, as far as Cole is concerned.
Outside of his office last week, where the smell of cigar smoke filled the hallway, Cole held court with reporters. He talked about the tension between the president and Congress as Republicans now attempt to hammer out a reconciliation bill.
“Presidents and administrations don’t get to dictate what’s going to happen here,” Cole said. “Congress is not the Army, and the president is the president, but not the commander-in-chief of Congress.”
“We’re supporting this administration, what it’s trying to do, but with all due respect to anybody, I think the members have a better understanding of what can pass and what can’t than the executive branch does,” he added.
Cole told NOTUS he doesn’t think this administration has tried to dictate anything in particular, but he insisted spending bills must be “a negotiated product.”
“Leadership on both sides have to agree, and I don’t think leadership on either side was prepared to agree in December. I think that’s too bad because that was a time to make the deal,” Cole said. “Come March, clearly, we had a deal on the table, we thought, and we couldn’t quite get there. And again, I think that was pressure from leadership.”
It’s true that spending negotiations were largely taken from Cole. Republican leaders, under pressure from Trump and conservatives, seemed to think mostly extending current spending levels was the way to go. And once, somewhat miraculously, Republicans were able to advance their bill out of the House, a number of Democrats in the Senate swallowed the legislation, reasoning that it was better than a shutdown.
It wasn’t how Democrats wanted the process to play out. But Democrats also suggested they didn’t think it was how Cole wanted it to play out either.
Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern told NOTUS he respects and admires Cole, whom he worked with closely when they served as the top members of the Rules Committee for their respective parties. McGovern said Cole, “if left to his own devices,” could come up with a “decent” appropriations package. But, McGovern said, Cole isn’t steering that spending ship.
The Trump administration and the Freedom Caucus have put Cole in a “tough spot,” McGovern said.
“My fear is that he is not going to be allowed to work his will,” he added. “What we’ve seen to this point is that reasonable people like Tom Cole seem to have been kind of pushed to the sidelines.”
Yes, Democrats were unhappy with the last appropriations process. Yes, Cole oversaw the process. But Democrats don’t seem to blame him for the outcome.
While that sort of goodwill among Democrats could be a liability in the red-meat Republican conference, GOP lawmakers also suggested it was an advantage. Rep. Steve Womack, who chairs a key subcommittee on Appropriations, said Cole’s favorability in both parties is exactly what’s needed.
“He’s a very well-respected member, kind of more of an institution guy, which is what I think we need right now, in terms of being — I mean, let’s just face it, we’re in divided government. The country’s divided,” Womack told NOTUS. “Political reality is you’re going to have to have things that can attract members on both sides of the aisle for the most important work that our Congress needs to be doing, and I think Tom Cole is the ideal person to lead the effort in that regard.”
Other Republicans on the Appropriations Committee agreed.
Rep. David Valadao emphasized the “tough” political environment members are in right now. He said Cole was better positioned than anyone to be chair at the moment.
“We’re trying to reach an agreement on top-line numbers that we could actually get something to the president’s desk and be signed by the president. And [Democrats] weren’t willing to negotiate,” Valadao said. “Hopefully, moving forward, they’re willing to talk to Tom, get to top-line numbers, agree to them and start appropriations bills, but it really is going to fall on both sides to come to an agreement that can get across the desk.”
Another longtime appropriator, Rep. Mike Simpson, echoed Valadao, saying Republicans couldn’t find a better chair than Cole, “especially in these times,” with razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate.
“Leadership decided to go a different direction to do the year-long CR,” Simpson said. “It is not something that anybody on the Appropriations Committee wanted, but we had to do something, and Tom’s very good at doing that.”
“There’s not a bigger supporter of leadership in getting the job done than Tom is,” Simpson said.
This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The post Tom Cole’s Bipartisan Reputation Gets Put to the Test in Trump’s Partisan Washington appeared first on oklahomawatch.org
Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The content presents a balanced view of Rep. Tom Cole’s role and challenges as Appropriations chair, incorporating perspectives from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. It neither favors nor criticizes one side excessively, recognizing bipartisan respect for Cole while acknowledging the partisan difficulties intensified by figures like President Trump. The piece emphasizes negotiation, cooperation, and political realities without partisan spin, reflecting a neutral and fact-based tone typical of centrist reporting.
News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
Attorney General alleges AI used in Swadley's BBQ case
SUMMARY: Attorney General Drummond alleges that Swadley’s BBQ owner Brent Wadley and his defense team used artificial intelligence (AI) in legal filings, leading to errors and falsehoods as their trial approaches in November. The defense denies using AI, attributing mistakes to human error amid tight deadlines. The case involves allegations that Swadley’s overbilled the state by nearly $5 million in a state parks contract, leading to indictments in 2022. The defense seeks to remove the Attorney General, claiming his remarks compromised their fair trial rights. Experts warn AI use by attorneys may be unethical or illegal, with potential punishments pending.
Attorney General alleges AI used in Swadley’s BBQ case
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News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
Judge Attempts to Quash Press Investigation With Gag Order
On August 29, Oklahoma County Special Judge Michelle “Shel” Harrington heard arguments on an Adult Protective Services motion to restrict all visitation for Estelle Simonton, 91. Simonton was moved from her Del City home to Wolfe Living Center at Summit Ridge in Harrah in 2024, after being put under an APS guardianship order.
Harrington did not restrict all visitation, but she came close. Then she added a couple of stunners: ordering her son, Matthew Simonton, not to discuss his mother’s case with his mother and barring her from talking to reporters.
On August 4, Matthew Simonton went to visit his mother. Nursing home staff attempted to deny access; after a tense confrontation, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office was called.
Deputies deferred to statutory proof that a visit was legal; over strenuous objections from nursing home staff, a visit was permitted and a subsequent incident report confirmed that the nursing home did not have the necessary court order to deny visitation.
Though aged, Estelle Simonton was found to be lucid and expressed a fervent desire to be with her son.
“The judge had already ruled that I could see my mother,” Matthew Simonton said. “They were defying what the judge had already ordered.”
Participate in Decisions that Affect Them
In 2015, Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, requested guidance from then-Attorney General Scott Pruitt on when and how visitation to a vulnerable adult under a guardianship order can be restricted.
Pruitt’s lengthy opinion first articulated the guiding principle of Title 30, Oklahoma’s laws on guardians and wards.
The clear intent of the law, the opinion said, was to encourage the self-reliance and independence of wards as much as possible; to the maximum extent of their ability, wards should be enabled to participate in all decisions that affect them.
Restriction of visitation to adults under guardianship orders was detailed in Title 43a, Oklahoma’s mental health laws, the opinion said.
Wards should be permitted the ability to associate with whomever they wish, the opinion said; but if a judge does restrict access, the order must specify the persons who are to be restricted.
A Restraining Order is Hereby Entered
In the August 29 hearing, Harrington ruled against the APS request to restrict all access to Estelle Simonton; Matthew Simonton was permitted to visit his mother.
But the judge issued several other rulings.
Special judges in Oklahoma are not elected; district court judges appoint them, and their duties and powers are significantly limited.
Judge Harrington’s LinkedIn page identifies her not as a judge, but as an attorney whose practice is entirely restricted to family law; she is a “divorce lawyer who doesn’t like divorce,” and who values “dating smarter” and “keeping marriage strong.”
In addition to denying APS’s motion, Harrington issued three orders: Matthew Simonton cannot discuss his mother’s case with his mother; he cannot bring anyone other than his domestic partner and her child to visit Estelle Simonton; and access to Estelle Simonton is denied to any member of the media.
“A restraining order is hereby entered preventing Mrs. Simonton from being interviewed by press without further order of this court,” the ruling reads.
Predatory Guardianship
Rick Black, founder of the Center for Estate Administration Reform, which has investigated 5,000 suspect adult guardianships since 2013, said the story of Estelle Simonton reeked of judicial hubris.
Black said that Oklahoma’s guardianship system appeared to lack best practices designed to avoid abuse and ignored an obligation to seek the least restrictive alternatives to guardianship. A lack of respondent counsel, transparency and third-party oversight, combined with an absence of video recordings at hearings and a requirement to seal files to avoid independent investigation, were significant issues with Oklahoma’s system, Black said.
Nationwide, Black said, there was a growing trend toward using claims of defamation as retaliation against those who expose guardianship wrongdoing. Lawsuits have been used to hobble the production of exposé documentary films being produced by Netflix and A&E.
For Black, Estelle Simonton was a case in point.
“The desire to silence [her son] Matthew and isolate Estelle is consistent with a predatory guardianship,” Black said. “The judge attempting to silence media on Estelle’s situation is also concerning.”
Oklahoma law requires judges to seal guardianship cases, a double-edged sword that is meant to protect patient privacy but also effectively thwarts any third-party investigation or oversight, a problem exacerbated by Harrington’s gag order.
Oklahoma City attorney Andy Lester, who has chaired the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee since it was created in 2022, agreed that Harrington’s ruling looks like an inappropriate encroachment on the First Amendment and the freedom of the press.
“This ruling appears to be an overreaching prior restraint,” Lester said. “It looks like a restriction on Ms. Simonton, but, as worded, it purports to bar all press. That is a step too far.”
The court did not respond to a request for comment by the story’s deadline.
No Oklahomans for Oklahoma City Event
In October, the National Guardianship Association will hold a Guardianship/Conservatorship National Investigator Training Program in Oklahoma City. The three-day event will feature talks on nursing home regulations, the ethics and standards of guardianship, and the role of judges in guardianship cases.
Former NGA president Anthony Palmieri, who will deliver the conference’s opening remarks, noted in a September 6 LinkedIn post that there had been no registrations from Oklahoma for the Oklahoma City event.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to show the judge barred Estelle Simonton from speaking to the press, not Matthew Simonton.
This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The post Judge Attempts to Quash Press Investigation With Gag Order appeared first on oklahomawatch.org
Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This article critiques the guardianship and judicial system in Oklahoma, highlighting issues of transparency, individual rights, and potential abuses of power. It emphasizes concerns about government overreach, the silencing of dissent, and the protection of vulnerable individuals, which aligns with a center-left perspective that often advocates for civil liberties, accountability, and social justice reforms. The tone is investigative and critical of institutional authority without veering into partisan rhetoric, maintaining a focus on systemic reform rather than ideological extremes.
News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
College gameday preps underway in Norman
SUMMARY: College Gameday preparations are in full swing in Norman as the University of Oklahoma hosts Michigan in a highly anticipated top-20 matchup Saturday. The national spotlight returns to Norman for the second consecutive year, with the College Gameday stage being set up on the South Oval. Nearby, The Standard restaurant, co-owned by Cameron Brewer, was selected as the guest chef for the show after submitting a proposal to ESPN over Labor Day weekend. They will serve burgers, catfish po’boys, chicken and waffles, and desserts, starting early Saturday before bringing food to the College Gameday set. Excitement is high as the city gears up for game day.
College gameday preps underway in Norman Stay informed about Oklahoma news and weather! Follow KFOR News 4 on our …
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