D.C. Digest: Lankford 'sacked by his own linemen' on border bill

U.S. Sen. James Lankford felt like a quarterback who’s been tackled by his own offensive linemen after his fellow Republicans trashed the national security package he negotiated with Democrats, he told a GOP gathering in Washington last week.

“When I called the play as the quarterback, and my own line turned around and sacked me; that was a surprise to me. Everybody was fully aware of what the play call was,” Lankford said in response to a question after speaking to the Ripon Society, an organization of traditional Republicans.

“I met personally with every single Republican,” Lankford said. “I sat down, talked them through the details five weeks before it came out. … Everyone knew what was in that bill. Everyone. Anyone who said they were surprised, well that’s a surprise to me because I remember sitting down with them personally and talking through every single member of the conference.”

More broadly, Lankford said, Congressional Republicans can’t get anything done because of “an activist base that says, ‘I want everything, or I want nothing.’”

That, he said, “does not align with the many people across the country who are saying, ‘These are hard problems. Do something. Don’t just stand there.’

“I don’t know how this gets better until we as Republicans decide we’re going to solve problems,” Lankford said. “Right now, we’re attacking the people attacking the problem. And that’s not healthy for us.”

Border security, Lankford said, “is the easiest of the hard (problems). We have the debt to deal with. We have Social Security to deal with. We have Medicare to deal with. We have harder things than this. If we can’t do the easiest of the hard things, we’re in a difficult spot.”

Split decision: Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, particularly in the House of Representatives, continues to disagree on priorities when it comes to government funding.

Three members — Tom Cole, Frank Lucas and Stephanie Bice — voted for last week’s short extension to avoid a partial shutdown. Kevin Hern and Josh Brecheen were among the 99 who voted against it.

U.S. Sens. Markwayne Mullin and Lankford both voted for the extension.

“Shutting down the government, and in turn threatening the pay of our brave men and women in uniform, federal employees, and essential workers, is not the answer. A short-term continuing resolution is the best path forward to ensure that the government remains open while Congress continues to work together to reach a deal and complete the appropriations process,” said Cole, who is angling for chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee.

Hern, who may still have an eye on the speakership after an unsuccessful try for it last year, regularly votes with the budget hardliners. So does Brecheen, who last month said he hopes the House is forced into a scenario that triggers mandated spending cuts.

Hern, as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, introduced legislation targeting China and its ruling Communist Party.

“The reality is that the CCP poses a greater threat to American sovereignty than any modern adversary,” Hern said. “We must treat the CCP like the threat they are.”

Among other things, the bill would end permanent normal trade relations with China, curb Chinese investment in the United States and end or curtail a wide variety of relationships between the two countries.

Micro-nuisance: Mullin warned against “getting ahead of, as we would say, the science” as lawmakers try to figure out what to do about the microscopic bits of plastic that have found their way into the nation’s water.

Mullin said municipal water systems are already struggling “to meet today’s regulations,”

Sunday TV: Mullin is scheduled to appear on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin.

Dots and dashes: Cole told NBC News that President Joe Biden is “flailing and looking for cover” and not sincerely interested in border security. … Asked if former Trump should indicate a preference for Senate Republican leader, Mullin replied, “as long as it’s the candidate I’m supporting.” ... Brecheen signed onto a move to have illegal immigration from Mexico designated an “invasion.” … Mullin and three other Republicans renewed their attack on California’s request for federal approval to sharply limit the sale of new internal combustion medium and light trucks. … Bice endorsed elimination of what remains of the federal inheritance tax. … Lankford co-sponsored legislation to automatically deport illegal immigrants convicted of driving while impaired. … State Climatologist Gary McManus spoke to the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, which is chaired by Lucas. … Mullin criticized administration delays in rolling out a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

— Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World

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