Cole says GOP should take middle class tax deal
BY CHRIS CASTEEL NewsOK.com
Sunday, December 02, 2012
12/02/12 at 5:24 AM
WASHINGTON - For decades, Republican politicians have sought the advice of Tom Cole - when he was chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, a political consultant, the secretary of state and, in the last decade, a congressman.
"He's an excellent political mechanic - one of the best,'' Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said last week. "I never question his wisdom when he says something out of the norm. Whenever he comes up with something that I disagree with, I really take another look at it."
Whether Republicans take another look at their views on tax hikes because of Cole's latest advice was a hot topic here last week.
Cole, R-Okla., suggested privately to Republicans that they accept President Barack Obama's plan to extend income tax cuts for 98 percent of U.S. taxpayers before they're set to expire at the end of December. That would effectively allow tax rates for upper income Americans to rise.
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Rep. Tom Cole, Republican
Age: 63
Home: Moore
First elected to U.S. House in 2002
Committees: Appropriations, Budget
Previous positions: Oklahoma state senator, Oklahoma secretary of state, political consultant, chief of staff for Republican National Committee, chairman of Oklahoma Republican Party
Education: B.A. from Grinnell College; M.A. from Yale University; Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma
Original Print Headline: Cole wants to protect GOP from blowback
ccasteel@opubco.com
Associated Images:
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole speaks to the Tulsa Metro Chamber in October. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World file
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