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OKLAHOMA CITY -- John McCain has passed the torch.
McCain, Arizona's senior U.S. senator, spoke Friday night at the Oklahoma Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City. He commended fellow Republican and Oklahoma junior Sen. Tom Coburn for becoming the new leader in the Senate against excessive federal spending.
"Our Republican base is unhappy with the fact that we have been unable to restrain spending in Washington," McCain said. "Tom Coburn has assumed a leadership role. He's taken from me the title of Miss Congeniality in the Senate and the fact is that he's done a great job."
While Coburn and McCain have fought for reduced spending, McCain said two other issues are currently out of control: Indian gaming and illegal immigration.
McCain, who chairs the Indian Affairs Committee, said something must be done to regulate Indian gaming across the country.
"It's probably too late, but I do believe that Indian gaming in America, not just in Oklahoma, needs much greater oversight," McCain said. "What you try to work is to increase the budget and size and capability of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Commission and also prohibit further abuses, such as taking land into trust without the local input of governments directly affected by Indian gaming operations. We've been trying very hard and I can tell you that we are not successful."
Another issue McCain discussed was illegal immigration. He said there are many issues that need to addressed, including border security and how to manage illegals already living and working in the United States.
"(Illegal immigration) is a product of 40 to 50 years of failed policy," McCain said. "We have broken borders and our first priority is to fix those borders. The president and I and others believe that after we secure the borders, we need to somehow resolve the issue of 11 to 12 million that are in this country illegally."
Despite "broken borders," McCain said he believed the country is safer today than it was five years ago, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9-11.
"I believe the country is safer, but I do not believe the country is safe," McCain said. "The fact that we've not had another attack since 9-11 is testimony that we've made improvements. Some people would say we were just lucky. I don't think so. I think that the president and this administration deserve credit that we have not had attacks since 9-11."
Tom Daxon, Oklahoma Republican Party chairman, applauded McCain's visit to Oklahoma City.
"Senator John McCain has been a strong leader in public life for our country for many years," Daxon said. "Because of his leadership and service, John McCain could very well be the next president of the United States. It is an honor to host him in the state and we appreciate his desire to help the Oklahoma Republican Party.
McCain, Arizona's senior U.S. senator, spoke Friday night at the Oklahoma Petroleum Club in Oklahoma City. He commended fellow Republican and Oklahoma junior Sen. Tom Coburn for becoming the new leader in the Senate against excessive federal spending.
"Our Republican base is unhappy with the fact that we have been unable to restrain spending in Washington," McCain said. "Tom Coburn has assumed a leadership role. He's taken from me the title of Miss Congeniality in the Senate and the fact is that he's done a great job."
While Coburn and McCain have fought for reduced spending, McCain said two other issues are currently out of control: Indian gaming and illegal immigration.
McCain, who chairs the Indian Affairs Committee, said something must be done to regulate Indian gaming across the country.
"It's probably too late, but I do believe that Indian gaming in America, not just in Oklahoma, needs much greater oversight," McCain said. "What you try to work is to increase the budget and size and capability of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Commission and also prohibit further abuses, such as taking land into trust without the local input of governments directly affected by Indian gaming operations. We've been trying very hard and I can tell you that we are not successful."
Another issue McCain discussed was illegal immigration. He said there are many issues that need to addressed, including border security and how to manage illegals already living and working in the United States.
"(Illegal immigration) is a product of 40 to 50 years of failed policy," McCain said. "We have broken borders and our first priority is to fix those borders. The president and I and others believe that after we secure the borders, we need to somehow resolve the issue of 11 to 12 million that are in this country illegally."
Despite "broken borders," McCain said he believed the country is safer today than it was five years ago, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9-11.
"I believe the country is safer, but I do not believe the country is safe," McCain said. "The fact that we've not had another attack since 9-11 is testimony that we've made improvements. Some people would say we were just lucky. I don't think so. I think that the president and this administration deserve credit that we have not had attacks since 9-11."
Tom Daxon, Oklahoma Republican Party chairman, applauded McCain's visit to Oklahoma City.
"Senator John McCain has been a strong leader in public life for our country for many years," Daxon said. "Because of his leadership and service, John McCain could very well be the next president of the United States. It is an honor to host him in the state and we appreciate his desire to help the Oklahoma Republican Party.
