Cole picked for House Appropriations Committee

U.S. Tom Cole nabbed a seat Wednesday on the House Appropriations Committee, one of the more coveted panels in Congress.

As a member of that committee, the Oklahoma Republican will help oversee federal spending.

His new post provides an automatic boost to the state delegation's clout in Congress as members of the committee also can steer funds to their districts and states for specific projects.

Cole was promised a seat on the key panel during the last Congress.

At the time, he was also chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the political arm of the House Republicans.

Cole was challenged for re-election to that position following GOP losses in the November elections, and he unexpectedly withdrew from that race just minutes before the vote.

2008 RESULTS: Oklahoma vote for U.S. House

District 1
349 of 349 precincts - 100 percent
x-John Sullivan, GOP (i) 193,351 - 66 percent
Georgianna Oliver, Dem 98,863 - 34 percent


District 2
570 of 570 precincts - 100 percent
x-Dan Boren, Dem (i) 173,696 - 70 percent
Raymond Wickson, GOP 72,774 - 30 percent

District 3
571 of 571 precincts - 100 percent
x-Frank Lucas, GOP (i) 184,246 - 70 percent
Frankie Robbins, Dem 62,278 - 24 percent
Forrest Michael, Ind 17,746 - 7 percent

District 4
416 of 416 precincts - 100 percent
x-Tom Cole, GOP (i) 180,040 - 66 percent
Blake Cummings, Dem 79,653 - 29 percent
David Joyce, Ind 13,021 - 5 percent

District 5
330 of 330 precincts - 100 percent
x-Mary Fallin, GOP (i) 171,841 - 66 percent
Steven Perry, Dem 88,961 - 34 percent