Representative James Lankford Comments On Budget Agreement

The House passed the budget agreement last week by an overwhelming margin, both Republicans and Democrats are giving their support to the deal.

Three out of Oklahoma's five House members voted for it.

I had the chance to visit with 5th District Representative James Lankford, who is now home on break. He understands there are plenty of critics of the budget agreement he voted for, but he insists there are good reasons he voted for it.

First, he says this will avoid what would be a third significant cut in defense spending in the last four years.

Second, he says this does begin to reform the federal pension program, which will mean real savings.

And, he says, bottom line, this budget would be the smallest spending bill since 2005. He says, would he have liked more? Yes, but he had to be practical.

"I can stand up and stomp my feet and yell and do a press release, and say we have to do it right now, do everything. But realistically, with this president, with this senate, they're not going to go along with that. So how do I get that resolved? how do I make progress?" Congressman Lankford said.

I asked Congressman Lankford about Speaker Boehner's frustration with members of his own party who voted against the budget, tea party members. He says he's one of those more conservative Republicans. But, in this case, in the end, he didn't want to stand in the way of what he sees as progress, even if it's just a small step.