Tulsa Standard

Representative Kevin Hern of Oklahoma's 1st District issued a statement following his vote in favor of H.R. 9747, a short-term funding bill aimed at maintaining government operations through December.

"Democrats and their allies in the media would love to see a shutdown so close to Election Day," said Rep. Hern. "They would falsely blame Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress for every problem that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris created, but I refuse to play their game. In the past, I have supported government shutdowns as an alternative to continuing the status quo in Congress of spending with no respect to the taxpayer. Today is not the day to do that."

Hern referenced a recent failed attempt by the House to pass a funding bill that included the SAVE Act, which he believes would have pressured Senate Democrats and the White House on issues related to election integrity.

"Just last week, the House failed to pass a government funding bill that included the much-needed SAVE Act," Hern stated. "I believe that if we had passed that bill, Republicans would dare the White House and Senate Democrats to shut down the government over their objections to ensuring only American citizens vote in our elections. The entire Oklahoma delegation supported this strategy, but unfortunately, the bill did not pass and we are now faced with a clean extension of funding through December or a shutdown."

Rep. Hern expressed optimism about future political prospects for his party: "I am confident that we will soon have majorities in the House and the Senate, along with President Trump in the White House, working together to cut spending and deliver results for the American people."