Government Shutdown, Debt Deal: How Oklahoma's Delegation Voted

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole is the only member of Oklahoma's delegation to vote in favor of a plan to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling.

The House voted 285-144 Wednesday night in favor of the plan, following the Senate's 81-18 vote.

Cole was among 87 Republicans in the House voting in support of the bill that restores funding for the government through Jan. 15 and extends the nation's borrowing authority through Feb. 7. The congressman released this statement Thursday morning:

"The last three weeks have been challenging for lawmakers and unfair for Americans, but today is a better day. Because both sides worked together and negotiated, the government will reopen at last and federal employees can finally return to work.

"This is good news for every American, but it's a heavy burden lifted for thousands of federal workers across the Fourth District of Oklahoma, including individuals at Tinker Air Force Base, Fort Sill, Federal Aviation Administration and other important agencies. I am pleased that services like those provided at Veterans centers and hospitals for Native Americans will now receive the funding needed to continue serving their patients."

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn voted no, and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe didn't vote because he's recovering from emergency heart surgery.

Oklahoma's U.S. Reps. Jim Bridenstine, James Lankford, Frank Lucas and Markwayne Mullin were among the 144 Republican House members voting no.

10/16/2013 Related Story: Open For Business: Government Shutdown, Default Averted