Narrator: "T.W. Shannon is a sixth-generation Oklahoman. T.W. is guided by his faith. Raised by working class parents, T.W. Shannon learned that success comes from hard work, not hand-outs. And it's those values T.W. and his wife, Devon, are teaching their two kids.
Shannon: "Washington, D.C., is broken, and our government is out of control. Generations to come will inherit crippling debt, limitless spending, and a health care system run by bureaucrats, not doctors and patients. I still believe we are one nation under God, and with his favor we can save our country. If conservatives here in Oklahoma and across America will unite and send the right leaders to Washington, we can restore prosperity. We can renew our values. And we can reclaim our destiny. With conservative leadership, we can fix what's wrong with our country.
"T.W. Shannon is a 6th-generation Oklahoman," a narrator says in the ad. "T.W. is guided by his faith. Raised by working class parents, T.W. learned that success comes from hard work, not handouts. And it's those values that T.W. and his wife, Devon, are teaching their two kids."
Shannon is facing a competitive GOP primary with two-term Rep. James Lankford, among others. The seat is open due to GOP Sen. Tom Coburn's decision not to finish out his term, slated to end in 2016. Oklahoma law allows Coburn to finish out the year in the Senate while a special election is held to find his replacement, ensuring there will not be a lapse in representation.
Shannon the Baptist Sunday School teacher quotes Sacred Scripture about the evils of debt--including allusions to debt as a form of slavery. Lankford the ordained Southern Baptist preacher fluently cites framers of free-market economic theories. T.W. Shannon has been a consistent foe of the Affordable Care Act; James Lankford was elected in part based on his predictions that ObamaCare would destroy the health-care system and that its mandates boost long-term debt.
In Congress, Lankford fights presidential overreach from the Legislature. Shannon assails federal interference with legislative state prerogatives and authority--and empowered an ally to form a "State's Rights" Committee to press against federal encroachment.
ObamaCare. Activist Judges. Reckless Federal Spending. Endless Red-Tape. Burdensome Taxes. Deepening Debt.
The American people are tired, and they want someone who will fight to protect their values. Stand with me in this fight against liberal encroachment on our values and beliefs.
"I want you to know that I will remain Speaker for the time being. I am not stepping down immediately because I want to ensure a smooth transition that does not disrupt the important business of the state, nor distract from the legislative goals of our caucus," Shannon wrote.
Shannon, who previously worked as congressional field director for former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts and current U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, was first elected to the Oklahoma House in 2006. He was the first Republican to represent District 62.
He won a close race for House speaker with the help of the Republican caucus' right wing, and he has staked out several conservative positions that occasionally rankle GOP leaders in the state Senate and governor's office.
They didn't say we are endowed by our government. They didn't say we are endowed by the courts. And they didn't say we are endowed by politicians.
You see, the freedoms and rights we have as Americans are recognized in our Constitution as coming from God. That is the firm foundation on which our nation is founded. At the core of those rights is that which the human heart desires most:
"If we're serious about addressing the needs of state government, we need to be serious about growing our economy, and raising taxes is not the way to do that," Shannon told the AP in an interview earlier this month. "You do that by allowing people and businesses to keep more of the money they earn. When they do, they either spend it or invest it, and that's how you grow your state, not by raising taxes."
House Bill 1908, authored by House Speaker T.W. Shannon, would take money designated to help needy families and divert it to a campaign promoting marriage. The bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate this week.
The bill, if it becomes law, would create a public service campaign as part of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative and utilize federal TANF funds, to promote marriage as a tool against poverty.
TANF--Temporary Assistance for Needy Families--was designed to help low-income families on a temporary basis. The bill would take funds from families and put it into advertising telling single parents the benefits of marriage.
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The above quotations are from 2014 Oklahoma Senate debates.
Click here for other excerpts from 2014 Oklahoma Senate debates. Click here for other excerpts by T.W. Shannon. Click here for a profile of T.W. Shannon.
T.W. Shannon on other issues: |
Abortion
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