Inhofe Discusses Surgery, DC Politics
Sen. Jim Inhofe talks heart surgery, health insurance and politics
In an interview during his first week back after emergency heart surgery, the Tulsa Republican says he wasn’t scared of dying, he couldn’t back Chris Christie for president and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell works for him.
By Chris Casteel
WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Inhofe returned to Washington last week, about a month after emergency heart surgery. Inhofe, R-Tulsa, had extreme blockage in five arteries. Inhofe, who turns 79 this month, has been in the U.S. Senate since 1994 and is running for re-election next year. He is the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and will help manage the 2014 defense bill when it comes up for consideration, possibly this week. He sat down for an interview in his Capitol Hill office to talk about his health, his health insurance and other topics. Some of his answers have been edited for reasons of brevity and clarity.