The Oklahoman
By Chris Casteel
May 30, 2022
Retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe is asking congressional appropriators for $550 million to fund transportation, military and research projects in Oklahoma and build on a nearly 30-year record of securing federal money for the state. Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, is seeking $231 million for Tinker Air Force Base, in Oklahoma County, for facilities connected to the KC-46A refueling plane and the next generation of AWACS. He is also asking for $124 million for McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System near his hometown of Tulsa. The senator’s requests make up the bulk of earmarks sought by Oklahomans in Congress. Democratic leaders last year revived the practice of including lawmakers’ projects in spending bills. Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford has condemned earmarks and doesn’t request them. Reps. Kevin Hern, R-Tulsa, and Markwayne Mullin, R-Westville, who is running to replace Inhofe, also have not requested projects.
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