Below are the reactions of U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, Illinois Republican Party Chariman Pat Brady, and Congressmen Peter Roskam, John Shimkus, Adam Kinzinger, and Rodney Davis to President Obama's "State of the Union" address:
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk
"I share the President's optimism that America's brightest days are
ahead of us. His willingness to improve economic stability should start
with bipartisan proposals, like the shared pain of the entire
Simpson-Bowles plan, not just a piece of it. If we can put aside our
political differences and work together to pass a long-term solution, we
would avoid the pending sequester and send a strong signal to our
creditors that America remains a stable place to conduct business"
ILGOP Chairman Pat Brady
“Tonight’s State of the Union speech was nothing more than a
recycling of the same big government policies of the last four years.
The American people did not hear any new ideas or broad vision of how we
can restart our economy. Now that the election is over, it's time for
the President to stop giving political stump speeches and time to start
offering real bipartisan solutions."
Congressman Peter Roskam
“For families struggling to make ends meet, tonight’s rhetoric
did little to allay their concerns for the future. What they got
instead was another campaign-style speech touting government spending as
the engine of our economy, and no real plan to ensure a strong private
sector that will grow jobs and make America globally competitive again. Now is the time for both parties to find common ground on a platform of
growth, competitiveness, debt reduction and accountability from a
bloated and inefficient government. Doing so will do more to address
the ‘unfinished task’ of reviving the economy for the middle class than
the tax and spend rhetoric of the last four years.”
Congressman Adam Kinzinger
“Tonight, Americans heard more of the same from President Obama which is disheartening news for our economy – and our country. Tonight was a major opportunity for the President to call Republicans and Democrats together to say both sides must work together to find common ground in order to solve the huge problems facing this country for future generations."
Congressman John Shimkus
“The President laid out an
agenda for our nation that I disagree with. He proposed many ideas about making government bigger and
more intrusive. He wants to
raise taxes, limit gun ownership, and over-regulate the climate…none of which
will help grow the economy and reduce the unemployment rate. Our national debt stands at
over $16 trillion, and yet the President claims we’re over half-way towards a
‘goal’ for deficit reduction. House Republicans have promised to restrain spending so that
we achieve a balanced budget in ten years without additional tax increases."
Congressman Rodney Davis
“Tonight’s State of the Union Address was an opportunity for the President to show true leadership on the issues most important to Americans, issues like jobs, the economy and our national debt. I agree that we need to come together with bipartisan solutions to our problems, and there are a number of the President’s proposals that I agree with, such as repairs to roads and bridges and an all-of-the-above approach to domestic energy. But talk is cheap and it is up to the President to lead the charge on many of his proposals tonight."
