Oklahoma House Speaker Lance Cargill on Friday defended his appearance at a controversial Mike Huckabee fundraiser and predicted a GOP sweep of Oklahoma's 77 counties in this year's presidential election."As opposed to a very popular Democrat governor (Brad Henry) at the top of the ticket, as we had in '06, in '08 we're going to have Hillary Clinton or (Barack) Obama, who will lose every single county in this state," Cargill told a Tulsa County Republican Men's Club meeting at the Summit Club.
"They will lose every single county, I'll make that prediction right now. So that will be very good for all Republicans up and down the ballot."
Responding to a question from the audience, Cargill dismissed criticism of a trip to Dallas he and five other GOP legislators took in December for a Mike Huckabee fundraiser at the home of businessman Gene Phillips.
Phillips is embroiled in the scandal that led to the corruption conviction of former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher. Phillips is also accused of trying to influence legislation related to his family's insurance business.
Earlier, Cargill said he didn't know the fundraiser was connected to Phillips until he and his party arrived. On Friday, he seemed to mod ify that position slightly, saying he didn't know where the event was at the time he received the invitation but "subsequent to that, I did learn that it was at the home of Gene Phillips."
Cargill reiterated that a number of prominent people were at the fundraiser.
"The notion that we set foot in the fellow's house and that we are now corrupted by that is wholly inaccurate -- wholly inaccurate."
Cargill concluded by pointing out that an Oklahoma Democratic Party fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday at an Oklahoma City law office is co-hosted by former Gov. David Walters.
In 1993, Walters pleaded guilty to one count of accepting an illegal campaign contribution.
Cargill touted Republican accomplishments in state government over the past three years, especially in the areas of highway and education funding and tax cuts.
Responding to a question from Tulsa City Councilor Cason Carter, however, Cargill offered little immediate relief for Oklahoma municipalities struggling to maintain streets. He said an Oklahoma Municipal League proposal to return a portion of state sales tax receipts for local use "will be difficult in this budget year."
The Tulsa City Council has endorsed the proposal.
Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com
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