Oklahoman: Lankford Looks To Continue Oversight Work In Senate

Oklahoma U.S. Rep. James Lankford wants to continue oversight work in U.S. Senate
by Chris Casteel

WASHINGTON — Rep. James Lankford, who is running for the last two years of Sen. Tom Coburn’s term, says he wants to continue the government oversight work Coburn has emphasized.

No matter who is president, federal bureaucracies can get out of control and Congress must hold them accountable, the Oklahoma City Republican said.

“It requires real oversight and it requires real attention,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

Lankford, 46, has been in the U.S. House since 2011, representing the district that includes most of Oklahoma County and Pottawatomie and Seminole counties. He and state Rep. T.W. Shannon, of Lawton, are the leading contenders for the Republican nomination for the seat held by Coburn, R-Muskogee, since 2005.

As chairman of a House Oversight subcommittee, Lankford has taken up some of Coburn’s causes, including fraud in entitlement programs and duplication across government agencies. Lankford has also held oversight hearings on energy, health care and environmental issues.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com