Idaho delegation turns thumbs down on Obama’s final State of the Union message
Idaho’s all-GOP congressional delegation gave President Obama’s final State of the Union address last night the thumbs-down, will all four issuing statements decrying the president and his message. “Instead of attacking Americans’ liberties, the President should work with Congress to secure our borders and protect the country from terrorism,” said Rep. Raul Labrador.
“Noticeably absent from his speech was an acknowledgement that a mere 27 percent of Americans currently believe the country is headed in the right direction,” said 2nd District Rep. Mike Simpson. Sen. Jim Risch said the speech was “no different from those before it,” and Sen. Mike Crapo said, “He continues to pursue more growth in government and more unrestrained spending.” Here are the full statements from all four:
1st District Rep. Raul Labrador: “The Obama administration has repeatedly undermined the Constitution and rule of law. They have targeted Americans’ First Amendment freedoms through the IRS, religious liberty through Obamacare, and Second Amendment rights through executive actions. Instead of attacking Americans’ liberties, the President should work with Congress to secure our borders and protect the country from terrorism. This year Congress must advance bold conservative ideas to help families who have seen job loss and stagnant income during the Obama presidency. We will fight for policies that simplify the tax code, reform our welfare system, and provide patient-centered healthcare in order to help these struggling families and give hope to millions of Americans who believe their leaders have forgotten them.”
2nd District Rep Mike Simpson: “I am not surprised that the President missed another opportunity to unite our country with his last State of the Union address. Instead of engaging Congress with a list of policy proposals we can work on together, the President chose to use the speech to lecture the nation on his agenda and his tired executive actions that continue to be blocked by our judicial branch. Noticeably absent from his speech was an acknowledgement that a mere 27 percent of Americans currently believe the country is headed in the right direction. Also noticeably absent was any mention of the crisis we face with regard to our national debt, with the President instead pronouncing new federal programs that would only add billions to it. There is no doubt this President delivers a great speech. The problem is he simply cannot deliver what he promises to the American people. The truth is that ISIS is not contained, the labor force participation rate remains too low, and our government-knows-best healthcare system is raising costs for families and patients. Sadly, the President missed a chance to provide a path forward at a time when our country needs bold ideas and creative solutions.”
Sen. Jim Risch: “Tonight’s speech was no different from those before it, with the president presenting his confused version of the realities and hardships facing the American people. President Obama used this, his final State of the Union address, as a victory lap to claim that seven years of increased spending, increased taxes, increased debt, and increased regulations have made America a better place to live. Idahoans know better. President Obama tonight claimed to have made Americans safer during the rise of ISIS. On the contrary, his disinterest in a winning strategy to combat ISIS and his commitment to a very bad nuclear agreement with Iran leaves Americans in greater danger today than in recent memory. The futures of our children and grandchildren are greatly imperiled after seven years of the Obama presidency. Tonight’s speech was a reiteration of the many bad policies and disasters that came out of this administration; and that it is not the ‘hope’ or ‘change’ that was promised. I look forward to turning the page in 374 days.”
Sen. Mike Crapo: “Tonight, President Obama used his final State of the Union address to outline his vision and priorities for our country. But again, he continues to pursue more growth in government and more unrestrained spending. I have disagreed with many of the President’s initiatives during his presidency. But our failure to deal with our fiscal crisis is paramount. Over the last seven years we have seen an explosion of debt, an unprecedented growth of government and a restriction of our privacy and freedoms. Our national debt now exceeds $18.8 trillion. We cannot continue to ignore our debt and simply try to spend our way into prosperity with borrowed money.”
