Rep. Cole says 2020 election is "over," Congress "very close" on stimulus package

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole spoke with FOX 25 on Thursday, discussing the 2020 election controversy, Congress' recent push for another stimulus package, and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

2020 ELECTION IS "OVER," IN COLE'S OPINION

As the Electoral College validated Joe Biden's win in the 2020 Election, Senator Mitch McConnell's acknowledgement of Biden as president-elect split Republicans on Capitol Hill.

On Thursday, Oklahoma GOP Congressman Tom Cole sided with the Senate Majority Leader, telling FOX 25 it's time for Republicans to recognize Biden's victory.

"In my view, the election's over," said Rep. Cole in a Zoom interview. "While the election didn't turn out the way I want at the presidential level, I respect the will of the American people."

Rep. Cole says while President Trump, who has refused to concede the election, is well within his rights to challenge what he believes may be fraud, he points to the fact almost all of the Trump team's lawsuits have been shot down in state, federal and even the Supreme Court. Cole also says throughout the process, he's seen no evidence of the widespread voter fraud the president has alleged.

"I don't see massive fraud the way some others do," says Cole. "And I think it's very unlikely you'd find it in four different states. I mean, nobody's actually told me who's behind all this. You'd have to have dozens of elected officials, hundreds if not thousands of poll workers cooperating across multiple states."

Cole says the president still has an opportunity when Congress signs off on the Electoral College results on Jan. 6, noting that Democrats protested results in 2001, 2005 and 2017.

CONGRESS "VERY CLOSE" ON ANOTHER STIMULUS DEAL

The Congressman says House and Senate lawmakers are "very close" on a stimulus deal as we near the end of 2020.

Cole tells FOX 25 that on a call with GOP lawmakers today, sides appeared to be down to the final points.

"Honestly we should have been able to wrap this up not days ago, but months ago," says Rep. Cole. "Because most of the things in the package are things that would have passed in July of this year."

According to Cole, the package currently being discussed tops out at around $900 billion. It has new money for the popular Paycheck Protection Program, enhanced unemployment benefits at an additional $300 per week, and more money for vaccine distributions. It will also feature another round of direct payments to Americans, albeit at a reduced $600 to $700 per person this time around.

To get the deal done, Cole says two major points were dropped from each side: Democrats cut out funding for state and local governments, while Republicans set aside their push for liability waivers for businesses.

The congressman notes the passage of this bill can't come soon enough to help boost the U.S. economy.

"If you actually follow the economic numbers, we had a pretty disappointing Jobs Report last week. Less than half the increase that had been predicted," says Cole. "That's the slowing economy, the lack of stimulus, the increases we're having in infection rates right now. And then we had this week again disappointing numbers on consumer spending and sales. So again, that suggests a stressed economy."

Rep. Cole says the negotiations look like they will spill into the weekend or the early part of next week. He says lawmakers have been told not to stray too far from the Capitol, as a bill gets near.

VACCINE DISTRIBUTION A SUCCESS

The fight against COVID-19 received a big boost nationwide this week, with the release of Pfizer's vaccine, the first against the coronavirus. Rep. Cole says he hopes people are "grateful" for the shot's arrival.

But the lawmaker warns the arrival of the vaccine doesn't mean the pandemic is over.

"Vaccines are on the way. I think that's a really big thing," says Cole. "Please don't let that be you excuse for not wearing a mask, doing the social distancing and washing your hands. It's going to be several months before we reach the level of inoculations where we can put this thing in the rear-view mirror."

Rep. Cole also thanked the Trump Administration for its work to deliver the vaccine, saying they came "faster than ever before."