HIGH ENERGY COSTS -- RILEY WAS FOR THEM BEFORE SHE WAS AGAINST THEM

For Immediate Release CONTACT: Randy Swanson
July 11, 2008 405.607.2971

*** NEWS RELEASE ***
HIGH ENERGY COSTS --
RILEY WAS FOR THEM BEFORE SHE WAS AGAINST THEM
Tulsa Senator Now Emulating John Kerry and Barack Obama



OKLAHOMA CITY – Just last weekend, Tulsa Senator Nancy Riley expressed her thanks for high gas prices because "That is what is helping sustain the state's economy" (Broken Arrow Ledger, July 5, 2008). Now, just four days later, Riley is quoted in another suburban Tulsa newspaper lamenting high energy prices because of their impact on local school districts.


According to the Sand Springs Leader (July 9, 2008), she bemoaned high energy prices, saying "They (local school districts) will now have to balance their budgets on the backs of our kids."


“So, it appears Nancy Riley was for high gas prices before she was against them,” said Randy Swanson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican Senatorial Committee. “Another John Kerry moment from Nancy.”


Swanson’s reference to “another” refers to Riley’s vote against a pro-life bill which would have prohibited state-owned facilities from performing abortions (SB 714) in 2007, and twice to sustain Governor Henry’s veto of the bill -- only to later vote in favor of a similar bill (SB 139), which became law. This flip-flop came after she had signed a pledge to vote against any taxpayer funding of abortions when she first ran for the Senate.


Riley has also flip-flopped on lawsuit reform legislation over the past years. See was for lawsuit reform before she was against it.


“Nancy Riley can’t decide who she is or what she stands for,” said Swanson. “But it’s very clear who she patterns her political career after.


“First she runs for office as a conservative Republican, and then switches to become a liberal Democrat, much like Hillary Rodham Clinton.


“Then, she follows Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lead in supporting higher energy prices -- but then bemoans the high cost of energy. She was for it before she was against it, a la John Kerry,” he continued.


“Throw in Barack Obama’s flip flops on the important issues of the day, and one clearly see can whose campaign playbook Nancy Riley has been studying.


“Does Nancy Riley have any core values? The voters of Senate District 37, and indeed the citizens of Oklahoma deserve to know,” Swanson concluded.


www.oksenategop.com

For Immediate Release CONTACT: Randy Swanson

July 10, 2008 405.607.2971

*** NEWS RELEASE ***

SEPARATED AT BIRTH?

NANCY RILEY PROMOTES THE ‘PELOSI PREMIUM’

Tulsa Senator Happy With High Gas Prices

OKLAHOMA CITY – Who said the following? “Thank goodness for high gas prices." If you guessed Exxon Mobil CEO Lee Raymond or Chevron CEO David O'Reilly or any other big oil executive, you are incorrect. If you guessed Tulsa State Senator Nancy Riley you move to the head of the class.

In an interview with the Broken Arrow Ledger last week, Senator Riley expressed her thanks for high fuel prices, and the perceived benefits those prices provide to state coffers. “Yep, she said it,” said Randy Swanson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican Senatorial Committee. “These sound more like the words of a candidate running for Congress from San Francisco than someone running for the State Senate in Tulsa.

“Come to think of it, perhaps Nancy Riley would be more comfortable serving under Nancy Pelosi’s leadership than she is serving Oklahomans,” Swanson continued.

Under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi – the San Francisco liberal – the United States Congress has reached an all-time low approval rating of 9%, according to national polling firm Rasmussen Reports (July 8, 2008). Under Pelosi’s leadership, America’s energy independence has been stifled through Congress’ refusal to open up the fertile areas within our own borders for drilling and production. Republicans in Congress are referring to the resulting increase in fuel prices as the Pelosi Premium.

Senator Riley of Tulsa appears to have embraced the Pelosi Premium in an interview last week when she declared “Thank goodness for high gas prices." (Broken Arrow Ledger – July 5, 2008).

“Clearly, the two Nancys are out of touch with real Americans, said Swanson. “If Nancy Pelosi thinks our dependence on foreign oil imports is good energy policy, and Nancy Riley thinks the energy prices that are cutting into our families’ budgets is good for Oklahoma, maybe Nancy Riley is running for the wrong office,” he continued.

”She may be more comfortable working with Nancy Pelosi in Washington, DC.”

When Nancy Riley was first elected to the Senate in 2000, her drive to the Capitol from Tulsa cost around $15 round trip. Today, that round trip costs almost $40.

“If Senator Riley is happy with the fact that higher energy prices are sustaining the state budget, we have no problem with that,” Swanson said. “But Republicans believe there are better ways to grow an economy other than consumer pain at the gas pump.

“We suggest Republican principles of responsible budgeting, reduced spending and a free-market economy.

“This stunning pronouncement by Nancy Riley is indicative of her compatibility on other issues that are important to her new political mentor. Both Nancys stand with big time trial attorneys when it comes to lawsuit reform, more government mandates on business and education, more spending and less tax relief,” he continued.

”We in Oklahoma can’t do anything about Nancy Pelosi, but we can send Nancy Riley back to her private life, and out of the business of supporting higher costs for Oklahoma families.” We can’t afford the Riley-Pelosi Premium here in Oklahoma,” Swanson concluded.

www.oksenategop.com