RXN Raw:
Reactions to the President's
State of the Union Address January 28-29, 2014
Potential
Presidential
Candidates Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Former Gov. Gary Johnson (L-NM) Partisan
Republican National Committee
Democratic National Committee
Libertarian National Committee
Green Party of the United States
National Republican Congressional Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Republican State Leadership Committee
National Jewish Democratic Council
House Speaker John Boehner Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Assorted Interest Groups (alpha)
AARP
America's Voice
American Federation of Teachers
American Immigration Council
Americans for Prosperity
Business Roundtable
Campaign to Fix the Debt
Digital 4th
Dream Action Coalition
Enroll America
Family Research Council
Federation for American Immigration Reform
FreedomWorks
Greenpeace
The Heartland Institute
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
MomsRising.org
National Association of Home Builders
National Council of La Raza
National Federation of Independent Business
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
RATE Coalition
Sierra Club
Solar Energy Industries Association
Preactions
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
AFL-CIO
American Petroleum Institute
No Labels
Potential Presidential Candidates
Sen. Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Cruz: President Obama Dodged Our Questions
He refused to provide answers about IRS
scandal, Benghazi attacks, protecting our privacy, Obamacare, and the
economy
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas,
today highlighted the questions that President Obama failed to answer
last night in his State of the Union address.
"Last night
President Obama had the opportunity to answer critical questions that
millions of Americans are asking all around the country, but he didn’t,
which is precisely why so many Americans have lost trust in this
President," Sen. Cruz said. "If President Obama truly wanted to restore
credibility to his government, he would have announced meaningful
action on a series of urgent matters that are of great importance to
our safety and freedoms. He would have addressed the IRS’s illegal
targeting of conservatives, announced action to bring terrorists to
justice for the attacks on our embassy in Benghazi, taken steps to
protect Americans from unjustifiable privacy violations by the federal
government, provided Americans relief from Obamacare’s hurtful effects,
and committed to pro-growth policies to get more Americans working.
Instead, he showed that he refuses to hold himself or members of his
Administration accountable to the American people. Rather, he intends
to pursue more executive actions, in defiance of the separation of
powers, the will of the American people, and their elected
representatives."
1) Regarding the IRS’s illegal targeting of conservatives,
Senator Cruz asked:
Will the President allow the
Department of Justice to appoint a special prosecutor to fully
investigate the IRS's illegal targeting of conservatives? The President
should be eager to prove he has clean hands on this issue. He professed
to be angry and outraged by the IRS abuse. Will he pledge to stop new
IRS rules that restrict the free speech of non-profit groups?
More than 250 days have passed since President Obama and Attorney
General Eric Holder professed outrage at the IRS’s wrongful conduct.
President Obama pledged to work “hand in hand” with Congress to find
out the truth and ordered the Department of Justice to conduct a
criminal investigation. Since then, the Administration has stonewalled
any meaningful investigation, no one has been indicted, and it has been
reported that the FBI does not plan to file criminal charges. Even a
top IRS official implicated in the targeting has been able to avoid
testifying before Congress, temporarily received paid leave, and
eventually quietly retired.
Meanwhile, the IRS is proposing
new agency rules that would effectively legalize future scrutiny of
conservative groups by forcing them to disclose its donors if they
wished to engage in voter education. At the same time, the Department
of Justice assigned a partisan Democrat, who has donated $6,570 to
President Obama and the Democratic National Committee in recent years,
to lead the investigation into actions at the IRS. This, on its face,
is a conflict of interest.
2) Regarding the
President’s promise to bring the terrorists responsible for the attacks
on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Sen. Cruz asked:
Will the President call on Congress
to form a Joint Select Committee to finally discover the truth of why
four Americans perished in a preventable terrorist attack in Benghazi
16 months ago?
President Obama said nothing. More than 16 months after the
September 11, 2012 attacks on Americans in Benghazi, we still do not
know why our facilities were denied proper security, why no military
assets were positioned near a known terrorist hotspot, why the attacks
were immediately blamed on a non-existing protest by the highest levels
of the Obama administration, and why no one in Washington or Libya has
been held responsible for the attacks.
What we do know is four
brave Americans were murdered in preventable terrorist attacks.
Congress, the American people, and the families of the victims are
still waiting for answers on Benghazi. President Obama, however, did
not believe this subject merited a single word of his 7,000-word speech.
3) Regarding ongoing concerns about the federal government’s
intrusion into our personal lives, Senator Cruz asked:
Will the President act to ensure
that the privacy of law-abiding citizens is protected from
unjustifiable violations by arms of the federal government such as the
NSA, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Internal Revenue Service,
and Department of Health and Human Services?
Although President Obama has previously created a task force to
explore reforming practices by the National Security Agency, he didn’t
offer any real action to protect the privacy of law-abiding citizens in
his State of the Union Address.
He said nothing about the IRS
targeting conservative groups seeking to exercise First Amendment
rights. The fact that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
still has not put proper protections in place to safeguard personal
information from security flaws that now exist on the Obamacare
websites, or to restrain the newly created Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (CFPB) from using its virtually unfettered authority
to conduct financial surveillance should worry all Americans.
4) Regarding the pain Obamacare is causing millions of
Americans all over the country, Senator Cruz asked:
Will the President finally recognize that it was a mistake to
ram through Obamacare on a party-line vote and that, right now, it is
hurting millions of Americans? Will he take real responsibility for
misleading the American people when he falsely promised “if you like
your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan” and “if you
like your doctor, you can keep your doctor”? Will he acknowledge that
he doesn’t have the power to unilaterally rewrite the health law for
powerful favored interests such as big business and Congress? And will
he finally work with Congress to repeal Obamacare and start over,
adopting instead reforms that will make healthcare more personal,
portable, and affordable?
President Obama offered no apology for the millions of Americans who
have lost their insurance plans, or stand to lose their insurance plans
due to Obamacare. He expressed no regrets for causing Americans to lose
their doctors, either. He said in his speech he would “take steps
without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families”
but every time he has done so to change Obamacare, it was to benefit
the elites—big business and Members of Congress—at the expense of
American families. And, instead of extending a hand to Republicans to
pursue commonsense reforms to make healthcare more personal, portable,
and affordable, he chastised them for opposing Obamacare.
5) Regarding the terrible Obama economy, Senator Cruz asked:
Will the President recognize that
his economic policies have failed to create the millions of jobs that
he promised and have, instead, reduced the labor force participation
rate to its lowest level in decades? Will he commit to commonsense,
job-creating policies such as the immediate authorization of the
Keystone Pipeline, a moratorium on new regulations, and fundamental tax
reform for every American?
President Obama claimed more than 8 million new jobs were created
and that the unemployment rate is the lowest in the past five years,
ignoring the fact that too many people are still unemployed and too
many have given up hope of finding a job. The labor force participation
rate is at its lowest point since 1978—an alarming 62.8 percent.
There is a 4.5 million jobs gap between the Obama Recovery and the
average post-1960 average recovery. In comparison to President Reagan
over the same comparable period, a Reagan Recovery would have produced
7 million more jobs.
If President Obama were truly committed
to job creation, he would pursue commonsense, bipartisan proposals,
such as authorization of the Keystone Pipeline. But, Keystone did not
get a single mention.
Finally, President Obama admitted the
need to cut red tape in some cases but promised more regulation in
other cases. Americans don’t need more regulations to support special
interests; they need a fair playing field in which the free market can
create more jobs.
Good evening. President Reagan
said "in the present crisis government is not the solution to our
problems, government is the problem. The crisis that existed when
Reagan took office was very similar to the one we face today.
Large numbers of people unemployed and even more dropping out of the
workforce, a stagnant economy, a growing federal government.
We solved these problems then by coming together, and by implementing
the right ideas. We can do it again, but we must look beyond the
current debate in Washington.
Let
me
say
from
the
outset,
I'll
work
with
the
President,
Democrats,
Independents
and
anyone
else
who
wants
to get people back to work and
alleviate poverty in our country.
That
said,
we
must
first
understand
what
caused
the
mass
unemployment
and
the
poverty
of
the
great
recession.
The housing bubble and
subsequent crash were caused by the Federal Reserve keeping interest
rates too low for too long. Too much government money was given
out to too many borrowers who could not afford the payments.
Banks were encouraged by government to lend money on houses with no
money down. The demand for houses went up and so did their
prices. But it was unsustainable. Millions of people lost
their jobs. If we don't understand the cause of joblessness,
we'll have trouble fixing it.
As
we
entered
into
the
great
recession,
Republicans
and
Democrats
misdiagnosed
the
problem
as
too
little
government
so
they gave us more
government in the form of bank bailouts and a government stimulus
plan. Nearly a trillion dollars later though, we find that
government doesn't create jobs very well. It turned out that it
cost nearly $400,000 per job created. Why? Because
government is inherently bad at picking winners and losers.
In
the
marketplace,
most
small
businesses
fail.
If
government
is
to
send
money
to
certain
people
to
create
businesses, they will more often
than not pick the wrong people and no jobs will be created. Think
of the half a billion dollars President Obama gave to Solyndra to build
solar panels. It turns out people didn't want to buy these solar
panels and the taxpayers lost that money. Think of the billions
spent on the war on poverty over many decades.
Government
spending
doesn't
work;
it
doesn't
create
jobs.
Only
the
democracy
of
the
marketplace
can
find
those
capable
of creating jobs. It's
not that government's inherently stupid — although it's a
debatable point —it's that government doens't get the same
signals. Milton Friedman recognized that when he wrote, "Nobody
spends somebody else's money as wisely as they spend their own."
When it's your money, it's spent with a concern no government
bureaucrat could ever duplicate.
Every day though, someone through hard work does rise up out of
poverty. Star Parker was one who escaped poverty, drugs and a
hellish life. She described her story in Today's Christian
Woman. She was 23 when she quit her job at the L.A. Times so she
could go on welfare. By collecting $465 a month plus food stamps
and by getting a part time job that paid cash under the table, she
could rent a nice apartment and earn far more money than working an
honest 40-hour week. Later she said she had no trouble dropping
her daughter off at a government-funded day care center, selling some
free medical vouchers to buy drugs and hanging out at the beach all
afternoon.
Quitting welfare was a big hurdle for her because she'd become so
dependent on government and had lost a sense of who she was. So
she wrote a letter the next day and told the county not to send her any
more checks. "I was trusting God," she said, and within three
months she got a good job at a food distribution company. Star
Parker went on to become an nationally known author, speaker and
ultimately a candidate for Congress.
I want Star Parker's story to be the rule, not the exception. I
have an idea that will empower Americans and give them the opportunity
to thrive. My plan is to create economic freedom zones in
distressed areas all over the country, including my home state of
Kentucky, which will leave more money in the hands of the people who
earn it.
In economic freedom zones we'll cut income and business taxes to a
single flat rate of 5-percent. We'll cut payroll taxes for
employers and employees so folks will go home with more money in their
paychecks. Burdensome, job-killing regulations will be removed,
and business will expand. More money and more jobs will flow back
to the areas that have suffered the most in this economic crisis.
School choice will be expanded. Parents will receive an
educational tax credit, because it's parents, not the government, who
knows what's best for their kids. Economic freedom zones won't
pick winners and losers. The money will go to businesses that
consumers have already voted for.
The president's Promise Zones also address poverty, but his plan
recycles worn-out ideas that haven't worked in the past. His idea
is that we should make it easier to funnel federal dollars back to
local governments. I think it would be better not to take the
money from the businesses in the first place. We need real jobs
created in the real world, not more empty government promises.
Under President Obama the percentage of people working is at it's
lowest level since the days of Jimmy Carter. Roughly 11 million
people are unemployed, and millions more have given up looking for
work. Our debt has nearly doubled since President Obama entered
office and is now over $17 trillion. Our credit rating has been
downgraded. Spending continues at unsustainable levels and we're
borrowing more than $1 million every minute.
But the numbers tell only half the story. Parents worry about
their children growing up in a country where good jobs are few and far
between. More than ever before Americans wonder how they'll
afford to send their kids to college and what will happen if they lose
their job.
I believe in an America where people are free to make their own
decisions, helping each other as they help themselves, and I believe in
an America with a strong safety net, but one that doesn't suffocate our
resolve to better ourselves and our country.
The ticket to the middle class is not higher taxes on the very
businesses that must create the jobs. A thriving middle class
doesn't come from shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Prosperity comes when more money is left in the private marketplace.
Families across America are worried. Good jobs are hard to find.
Mr. President, where are the jobs? You spent nearly a trillion
dollars on make-work government jobs and still joblessness confronts
the next generation. As a country, all of us together must ask
are we better off when we borrow money from China. Are we better
off when we print more money to pass around, hoping no one will notice
that the emperor has no clothes. The illusion wears thin.
It's time we choose another path. Government spending sounds
great, but what good is a welfare program that leaves people
embittered, resentful and trapped, unable to climb into the middle
class. What is the virtue in making people feel hopeless, like
they can build a good life in America any more. Hope and change
needs to be more than just a slogan.
Ronald
Reagan
once
said
that
to
love
our
country
is
to
love
our
countrymen,
and
because
we
love
them, we must provide them with the opportunities
to make them equal in fact and not just in theory. The war on
poverty failed. It has trapped us in multi-generational
dependency. The lesson should be that sending money to Washington
and expecting central planners to send it back in a way that creates
jobs is foolhardy.
Economic
growth
will
come
when
we
lower
taxes
for
everyone,
especially
people
who
own
businesses
and
create
jobs.
If
we
allow
ourselves
to
succomb
to
the
politics
of
envy,
we
miss
the
fact
that
money
and
jobs flow to where they are welcome. If you punish
successful businessmen and women, their companies and the jobs these
companies create will go overseas. Lower taxes, less regulation
will entice money and jobs to return home.
Americans
want
opportunity.
A
chance
to
work
again.
I
fully
believe
that
most
Americans
hate
the
trap
of
government dependency but can't
break free because big government gives them no exit. I believe a
better tomorrow is around the corner if we can see beyond those who
entice us with the easy way out. Hard work and sweat invigorate
the spirit and provide a solace no government program will ever
achieve.
We
must
choose
a
new
way,
a
way
that
empowers
the
individual
through
education
and
responsibility
to
earn
a place alongside their fellow
Americans in the most prosperous nation ever conceived. America
has much greatness left in her. We must believe in ourselves,
believe in our founding documents, believe in our future, and then we
will thrive again.
Thank you and God bless America. Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)
Gov. Perry Response to State of the Union
Gov. Rick Perry today released the following statement in response
to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address:
"We didn't hear much tonight from President Obama that we haven't
before, other than his intention to expand his own powers by bypassing
Congress altogether. The strength of our Union is in our states, not
Washington, and Texas has shown that the way to economic prosperity and
significant job growth is through individual freedoms and the free
market. Tonight, we saw a president with the same old agenda and no
real idea on how to govern. Americans expect and deserve more from a
president than continually broken promises and unfunded platitudes."
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Rubio Comments On
Tonight’s State Of The Union Address
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the
following statement tonight regarding President Obama’s State of the
Union Address:
“Americans deserve more opportunities to achieve a better life, and
that’s going to require a free enterprise economy that’s creating more
middle class jobs and a government with less debt. While the President
discussed some areas of common interest, the heart of his 2014 agenda
is clearly more about working alone than with the American people’s
representatives on the major reforms we need.
“President Obama missed an opportunity on several fronts, especially
by insisting that Washington keep spending more money than it takes in,
keep dictating to entrepreneurs how to run their businesses, and
failing to level with the American people about how we can save our
retirement programs. We need a real opportunity agenda that helps
people seize the enormous potential that the coming years hold.”
In addition, Rubio commented on the following issues the President
addressed tonight:
RUBIO ON INCOME MOBILITY
“Washington is too dysfunctional and poorly suited to effectively
manage America’s anti-poverty programs. A better approach is to empower
states to determine how to set up their own safety nets to best deal
with the unique problems of each state. We should replace the
earned-income tax credit with a wage enhancement that would make a job
a more enticing alternative to collecting unemployment insurance. We
need a better-functioning safety net that helps people get back on
their feet, along with an economy that’s creating more middle class
jobs and an education system that helps people attain the skills to
fill those better-paying jobs.”
RUBIO ON OBAMACARE
“At no point did the President explain why American taxpayers should
have to fund a bailout of health insurance companies when ObamaCare
fails to sign up enough young and healthy people. The President won’t
be able to ignore this problem much longer as the realities of
ObamaCare’s failures put taxpayers at greater risk of bailing out
health insurers. We should take this possibility completely off the
table by approving legislation I’ve introduced with Congressman Tim
Griffin.”
RUBIO ON FOREIGN POLICY
“President Obama claims credit for ending one war and winding down
another, but the truth is that the global war against extremists will
continue long past his presidency. America’s role in the world is as
indispensable as it has ever been, yet President Obama glossed over the
enormous challenges we face. The President failed to acknowledge the
ongoing security threats we face in Afghanistan and Iraq or address
bipartisan concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the bellicosity of
North Korea, the instability in Egypt and the ongoing tragedy in Syria.
I remain concerned that his proposals could weaken our intelligence
capabilities and military preparedness at a moment when we face
emerging new threats around the globe.”
RUBIO ON FREE TRADE
“After five years of doing little to promote free trade, I’m glad
President Obama talked about the importance of new trade agreements
with Europe and Asia. Expanding free trade will open new markets to
American exports, which will create thousands of new middle class jobs
here at home. I am hopeful that the Administration will successfully
conclude negotiations with our trade partners in Asia and Europe, and
that Congress will approve these promising new trade agreements.”
RUBIO ON IMMIGRATION
“The U.S. has a broken immigration system that needs to be fixed,
but it’s clear the President either fails to realize or is indifferent
to the fact that his unilateral, executive power grabs and habit of
ignoring parts of ObamaCare have made it harder to achieve meaningful
progress on immigration. As he forges ahead with his unilateral agenda
on a host of issues, he needs to recognize that a permanent solution to
our immigration problems rests with Congress. The House of
Representatives should be given the time and space to develop their own
immigration reform proposals, and we should all recognize that
incremental progress is better than nothing at all.”
RUBIO ON THE MINIMUM WAGE
“Raising the minimum wage may poll well, but having a job that pays
$10 an hour is not the American Dream. The way our people will achieve
the American Dream is by making it easier for those who are stuck in
low-paying jobs to seize opportunities to move up to better paying
jobs. To do this, we must focus on policies that help our economy
create those jobs and that help people overcome the obstacles between
them and better paying work.”
Rep.
Paul
Ryan
(R-WI)
Ryan Statement on President’s State of the
Union Address
Washington – Following President Obama’s State of the Union address,
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin issued the
following statement:
“In tonight’s speech, President Obama missed an opportunity to
lead. Instead of putting forward bold solutions to tackle our
most
pressing challenges, the President offered more empty promises and
recycled the same failed policies. Instead of charting a new
course
for renewed opportunity, the President recommitted to the path to debt,
doubt and decline. Instead of working together to find common
ground,
the President continues to exploit the real anxieties of hard-working
families by dividing Americans for political gain. Pitting
Americans
against each other makes us weaker, not stronger.
“The President stated his desire to ‘fight
obstruction with action,’ yet his own party’s leaders in the U.S.
Senate have failed to even propose a budget despite our looming fiscal
crisis. In fact, today marks 1,000 days without a budget from
Senate
Democrats – a legal and moral failure by elected leaders. The
economic
and fiscal challenges before us require credible budget plans, and the
President and his party’s leaders refuse to account for their reckless
spending spree. The speech offered little more than a laundry
list of
proposals to spend money we don't have without any serious solutions to
dig us out of the hole we're in. I invite the President and his
party’s leaders to join our efforts to advance bipartisan solutions and
principled reforms. I’m proud to work across the aisle on reforms
that
save and strengthen Medicare and repair the broken budget
process. It
is disappointing that the President continues to isolate himself from
these efforts with false partisan attacks.
“The President rightly highlighted the need for a ‘renewal of
American values.’ Yet the results of his failed policies and
divisive
rhetoric do just the opposite. Centralizing more power in
Washington
is antithetical to the American Idea, which promotes economic freedom
and upward mobility for each and every citizen. It is critical we
work
together to advance a reform agenda that applies our timeless
principles to the challenges of today.”
Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2014
Contact: Virginia Davis
Rick
Santorum
Responds
to
State
of
the
Union
Address
Dallas,
TX - Former U.S. Senator, former Republican presidential candidate and
Chairman of Patriot Voices Rick Santorum issued the following statement
at the conclusion of President Obama's State of the Union address
tonight:
"The
state of our union is indeed strong, but it is because of the
resilience of hardworking Americans, not because of the heavy-handed
policies of this administration.
"President
Obama's State of the Union address glossed over the failures of his
administration: failure to improve the economy, failure in
the
implementation of his signature achievement ObamaCare, failure to
address our national security challenges, and failure to
compromise.
"The
tool of the Executive Order, which President Obama said tonight he will
again put into use, illustrates the vindictive way he chooses to
govern. Rather than finding areas of compromise, he bypasses
Congress
and acts unilaterally to ram through his agenda.
"We
hear the media talk endlessly about a do-nothing Congress, but we can't
ignore our do-nothing President, in part because of the atmosphere he
has created that makes it impossible to get anything done. He
continues to harmfully expand the power of the presidency to the
detriment of the American people.
"If
President Obama really wants to help hardworking American families
achieve good-paying, stable jobs and live the American dream, he would
stop pushing an agenda that is hurting small businesses, increasing
healthcare costs and is overwhelmingly anti-family. We must
put in
place an economic plan that revives our domestic manufacturing and
energy potential, rolls back job-killing regulations and forces the
federal government to shrink.
"Finally,
I will say that on one point the President is right: Americans want to
believe in opportunity for all. But that can only be achieved if
this
President and this Congress begin to lift up hardworking families,
protect our national security interests through a consistent foreign
policy and ensure prosperity for this and future generations by
building economic freedom," concluded Senator Santorum.
###
Sen.
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Sanders Statement on State
of the Union
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 – Sen.
Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
issued the following statement tonight after President Barack Obama
delivered his fifth State of the Union address to a joint session of
Congress:
“I welcome President Obama’s
focus on reducing inequality
and helping working families in America. The American economy is not
sustainable when so few have so much and so many have so little. It’s a
moral issue and it’s an economic issue.
“The American people, no matter
what part of the country
they are from or what political party they support, want us to put
millions of people back to work. They want to deal with income and
wealth inequality. They want us to raise the minimum wage.
“I applaud the president’s
decision to issue an executive
order which will raise wages for hundreds of thousands of workers, an
issue that I and other senators have been working on for months. The
president has made it clear that employees working for government
contractors should not be paid starvation wages. This executive order
also gives us momentum for raising the minimum wage for every worker in
this country to at least $10.10 an hour.”
Former Gov. Gary Johnson
GOV. GARY JOHNSON’S REACTION TO THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
January
28, 2014, New York, NY --
Former New Mexico Governor and 2012 presidential candidate Gary Johnson
released the following statement in response to President Obama’s State
of the Union address:
“Since President Obama’s State of the Union speech last year, the
national debt has increased by more than $700 billion. Millions
of Americans are or will soon see their insurance cancelled, altered or
rendered substantially more expensive -- and their health care choices
now made by the government. And when it comes to civil liberties
and fundamental freedoms, Americans are today more fearful of their own
government than of outside threats.
“These are realities that no rhetoric can disguise. The President spoke
of building “new ladders of opportunity”. As long as our President and
the Congress continue to add to the burden of debt on every American
and continue to make us less free, the ladder of opportunity will just
become more and more difficult to climb.
“Americans don’t need a speech to know that the state of the Union is
precarious, and will remain so until politicians of both parties
abandon the failed idea that the federal government can somehow spend
and manipulate us into prosperity and real opportunity.
“We’ve tried the approach of addressing the nation’s challenges with
more government, more programs, and dollars we don’t have. The
President’s speech tonight suggested more of the same. I believe
America is ready to try something different, like less government, less
debt and more freedom to build our own ladders of opportunity.”
Partisan
Republican National Committee
RNC Response to State of the Union
WASHINGTON –
This evening, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince
Priebus released the following response to President Obama’s lackluster
State of the Union address. Chairman Priebus issued a call for fairness
and for accountability in government.
See the transcript below and watch the response here.
Transcript:
Good evening. I’m RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. Tonight, we heard the
same old promises from President Obama. Promises for a better economy.
Promises for better healthcare. Promises for a better government.
But after five years of promises, what do we have to show for it?
There are more Americans living in poverty than ever before.
People are giving up on looking for work.
Incomes have fallen.
And under ObamaCare, healthcare has actually gotten far more expensive.
Five million Americans have received notices that their insurance is
cancelled.
Now that’s not fair. It’s not fair that Americans
lost insurance they liked because the president lied to them. Now, not
only are people losing their insurance, they’re losing their doctors
too.
We deserve a government that treats people fairly—and lets people make
decisions that are right for them.
As Republicans, we believe in putting individuals in charge. It’s time
we put power in the hands of people—not in the hands of a big and
intrusive bureaucratic government.
We believe in a pretty
simple idea. We want every American to have the chance to make it in
this country. Whatever your American Dream is, we want you to have the
opportunity to achieve it.
So that means we need great schools. And parents should be able to
choose the school that’s right for their kids.
And it means we need a healthcare system that’s more affordable and
accessible—and not run by bureaucrats.
We’ve tried the Democrats’ way. And we all know it’s just not working.
Their way means fewer choices in healthcare.
It means fewer choices in education.
And it means fewer choices in the job market.
None of that’s fair to the American people. But it’s what Democratic
leadership has produced.
So there’s only way one to change course. This November, Americans will
once again go to the polls to elect leaders at all levels of
government. And it will be our chance to cast a vote for fairness,
opportunity, and freedom. It will be our chance to vote Republican.
Thank you – and God Bless you.
###
Democratic
National
Committee
DNC
Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on
President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union Address
Washington, DC – Following President Obama’s State of the
Union Address, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman
Schultz released the following statement:
“With tonight’s speech, President Obama has put forth a Democratic
vision for a United States that is defined by opportunity, action and
optimism. President Obama made clear that he hopes to work with
Congress to get things done in a bipartisan way, but will also use
other tools and partners to ensure action and the meaningful changes
that will help more Americans gain access to the middle class.
“The executive order the President announced to raise the minimum
wage for new federal contracts is just one example. But we need to do
more – Congress should act to raise the minimum wage and help lift
nearly 5 million Americans out of poverty. They should extend
unemployment benefits for more than a million Americans who lost their
lifeline after the GOP let them expire. And it’s time to pass
comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for
millions of immigrants who have been stuck in a broken system.
“Tonight the President reaffirmed his belief that if you work hard
and play by the rules, you should have the opportunity to succeed.
That’s a belief that Democrats and the vast majority of Americans stand
by and it’s time for Republicans in Congress to end the gridlock and
join with the President to get the economy working to help more
Americans reach the middle class.”
###
Libertarian National Committee
Libertarian Party response to 2014 State of the
Union address
WASHINGTON
— Libertarian Party Executive Director Wes Benedict issued the
following statement today in response to President Barack Obama's State
of the Union address:
Thanks to unprecedented levels of government interference and
government coercion, Americans' rights are violated like never before.
We are harmed by taxes, regulations, prohibitions, and shocking privacy
intrusions.
Unfortunately, most of the harm and injustice of government occurs
because too many Americans support existing government policies. We're
suffering under a tyranny of the majority. Our Libertarian hope is that
we can convince enough Americans to change their minds. We hope voters
will come to understand that government is force, and force is unjust.
Here are some of the problems we see.
The government debt situation is atrocious. Government debt is a
terrible thing, because it forces future generations to pay off debts
they never agreed to incur. From 2001 to 2008, George W. Bush doubled
the debt, mostly with the support of a Republican Congress. Since 2009,
Barack Obama and the Democrats (and Republicans) have nearly doubled it
again. It doesn't matter whether Republicans or Democrats control the
government. Libertarians would quickly balance the budget by cutting
spending on everything, including entitlements and the military.
Thanks to the work of Republicans and Democrats, America has
declined in the Economic Freedom Index. We've been sliding for years,
and now we're down to #12. We're below Australia, Canada, and Denmark.
Libertarian policies would get us back to #1.
Government should stop creating programs to fight economic
inequality. Some economic inequality is natural and healthy in a free
society. Actually, government often creates artificial inequality by
granting special privileges to certain businesses or classes of people.
Republicans and Democrats do that all the time. Libertarians prefer a
level playing field.
The employment situation is still pretty bad. Why? Because
government gets in between employers and employees, and tries to
dictate everything. Minimum wage laws, hiring laws, firing laws,
subsidies, and business taxes all make it harder to create jobs and
find jobs. These laws are supported by both Republicans and Democrats.
Libertarians would eliminate the minimum wage, employment red tape, and
business subsidies and taxes.
Since 2001, the federal budget has exploded. Whenever the government
spends money, it displaces it out of the private sector. That means the
government is making more choices about how we use our resources, and
free people are making fewer choices. That inevitably harms our
economy. Libertarians would eliminate most programs, and cut spending
on the rest.
If there's one thing we have learned since 2001, it's that we can't
trust what government officials say. They lie. Bush and Cheney said
there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. James Clapper (Director
of National Intelligence) said under oath that the NSA does not collect
data on Americans. Those are a couple of the most outrageous lies, but
there have been many others. The more power government has, the more
government officials will have the opportunity and incentive to lie.
Libertarians would greatly reduce government power.
Government should not be trusted to tell the truth about global
warming, or to create restrictions in the name of fighting it. Look at
the waste and environmental damage caused by government ethanol
subsidies!
It used to be that if you said the government was watching you,
people thought you were paranoid. Now, partly thanks to the efforts of
Edward Snowden, everyone knows it's true. Between the Patriot Act, the
IRS, the FBI, and the NSA (and probably other agencies as well),
Americans have no idea whether ANYTHING they do is private anymore.
Government should respect people's privacy, not violate it.
Libertarians would end foreign wars, and end the War on Drugs, which
would take away most of the government's excuse for spying.
Libertarians would also repeal the Patriot Act and other invasions of
privacy.
What about Obamacare? The problems with American health care go far
beyond Obamacare. The problem is the whole huge mess that government
interference has created. For decades, the government has done nothing
but undermine health care by interfering in the health care market, and
creating mandates and prohibitions that override our choices. Obamacare
took a bad situation and made it worse — but let's not forget that it
was already very bad. And that's thanks to the efforts of both
Democrats and Republicans. As stated in our platform, Libertarians
would "recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of
health insurance they want (if any), the level of health care they
want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they
will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including
end-of-life decisions."
Libertarians believe that government should have no involvement in
education whatsoever. That goes double for the federal government.
Unfortunately, the federal government massively interferes with
education today: subsidies for preschool, subsidies for K–12 education,
subsidies for higher education, and lots of mandates and regulations
thanks to efforts like the Republicans' No Child Left Behind law. Our
children would be much happier and better educated if government would
get out of the way. Libertarians would eliminate the Department of
Education and repeal No Child Left Behind.
Republicans and Democrats have also created a mess with immigration.
The immigration debate has nothing to do with border security; it's all
about employment. Currently, millions of foreigners work here
illegally, because Republicans and Democrats have made it almost
impossible to do legally. Libertarians would make it very easy for
foreigners to come here, live here, and work here.
How about the military? The Libertarian attitude is pretty simple:
the U.S. military should leave other countries alone, even if their
governments are unstable, and even if there are people living there who
hate Americans. We need to cut military spending a whole lot. Try
getting Republicans or Democrats to support ANY cuts to military
spending.
Amid all this gloom, we do see a bright spot: the War on Drugs. In
2012, voters in Colorado and Washington passed initiatives to end
prohibition of marijuana. Recently the New Hampshire House of
Representatives did so too. A majority of Americans now believe that
marijuana should not be prohibited. As time goes on, we believe that
more and more Americans will join us in opposing the War on Drugs.
We're pleased President Obama is moving in our direction on this issue.
All in all, the state of our union is a big mess created by
Republicans and Democrats. Libertarians
offer
a
path
forward to peace and prosperity. Our 149 elected
Libertarians nationwide work to implement libertarian policies
directly. Hundreds of other Libertarians run for office each
election cycle.
Green
Party
of
the
United States
Green Party TV broadcast: Green candidates and leaders will comment
on President Obama's State of the Union address on Jan. 28
• The public is invited to watch and participate in the chat and
phone in questions during the broadcast
WASHINGTON, DC -- Green
Party candidates running in 2014, activists, and leaders, including
2012 presidential nominee Jill Stein and running mate Cheri Honkala,
will comment on President Obama's State of the Union speech in a live
broadcast on Tuesday, Jan. 28 on the Green Party's Livestream channel (http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus).
The State of the Union broadcast, which begins at 9:00 pm ET, will
be aired on the Livestream page.
A
chat box for open discussion will be on the screen next to the live
State of the Union video. Viewers are encouraged to contribute
questions for the guests, online by text chat or by phone.
After the president's address, the guests will be on the
Livestream broadcast via remote webcam. Craig Seeman and Green Party
national co-chair Starlene Rankin are producing the show and will also
participate on air. Mr. Seeman will host.
Confirmed guests on hand to comment on the President's speech:
• Tim DeChristopher, climate justice activist and co-founder of
the environmental group Peaceful Uprising (http://www.peacefuluprising.org);
his
protest
at
a
Bureau
of
Land
Management
oil
and
gas
lease
auction
and
subsequent
conviction
were
profiled
in
the
documentry
"Bidder
70"
(http://www.bidder70film.com)
• Cheri Honkala, 2012 Green vice-presidential nominee, co-founder
of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (http://economichumanrights.org)
• Shamako Noble, co-founder of the Hip Hop Congress (http://hiphopcongress.com);
labor
and
community
organizer
in
the
Bay
Area,
California;
Hip
Hop
artist
Some of the above participants are also members of the Green
Shadow Cabinet of the United States, a civic project not sponsored by
or affiliated with any political party (http://greenshadowcabinet.us).
Non-Green
organizations
mentioned
in
the
list
above
are
for
identification
purposes
only.
National Republican Congressional
Committee
Matt Gorman
President Obama’s 2014 #SOTU: “Here I Go,
Again, On My Own…”
Well, there you have it…
President Obama just finished his State of the Union and it sounded
more like this
80s hair metal hit.
We now can see very clearly what he and Democrats across the country
intend to do until November: rehash the same broken promises from years
past, ignore Republicans, and cater to their liberal base.
While President Obama may have run his last campaign, Democrats
across the country will face voters again in November.
The choice between returning to the days of complete liberal control
of Washington and maintaining a check on President Obama’s power isn’t
a choice at all.
We look forward to the stark contrast this November.
NRCC COMMENT: “What Americans saw
tonight is a party that has
run out of ideas and is resorting to the same empty promises we’ve
heard before. Democrats’ last ditch effort to win back the House is to
align themselves with a president who is increasingly liberal,
unpopular, and isolated.” – Matt Gorman, NRCC Spokesman
Democratic
Congressional
Campaign
Committee
DCCC Chairman Steve Israel’s Statement on the State of the Union
Address
DCCC Chairman Steve Israel released the following statement
after President Obama’s State of the Union Address.
“Today is a study in contrasts: President Obama put a spotlight on
our defining priority – middle class security – while House Republicans
voted yet again to restrict women’s health care choices. Every day
between now and November, these priorities will be on display as House
Democrats fight to expand opportunity, take action to create good jobs
and make sure that more Americans can look forward to a bright future
for their families. The best way to ensure middle class security is to
make sure that all Americans have the opportunity to live the American
Dream and prosper.
“This agenda for middle class security faces one major obstacle:
House Republicans. Whether it is their vote today to limit women’s
rights, or their government shutdown to let insurance companies do
whatever they want, or their protection of tax breaks for big oil at
the expense of Americans looking for work, this Republican Congress has
made it clear that they are stacking the deck against the middle class.”
Republican State Leadership
Committee
RSLC Chairman Bill McCollum Statement On The State Of The Union
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Washington, D.C. (January 28, 2014) – Today,
Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) Chairman Bill McCollum
issued the following statement:
“While the state of President Obama’s Administration is weak, the
state of our Republican states is strong,” said McCollum. “While
the
President’s policies are proving to be some of the most blunder-prone
in history, the 59 state legislative chambers led by Republicans are
implementing major reforms that are having a positive impact and
statewide Republican officials across the nation are leading with
decisive action. No matter how hard President Obama tries to
claim
that 2014 will be a ‘year of action’ his track record of lies to sell
Obamacare and his botched leadership of a dysfunctional Washington make
us hope his actions will be limited at best.”
Background:
Republican led states are open for business. Republicans
currently control 59 of the 99 state legislative chambers nationwide.
Beyond legislative seats and our 29 governorships we hold
Republican majorities for other statewide elected offices including 29
lieutenant governors and 28 secretaries of state seats.
There are currently 24 Republican Attorneys General. These AGs
continue to be the last line of defense against the Obama
Administration’s consistent federal overreach.
National Jewish Democratic Council FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 29, 2014
CONTACT: Steve
Rabinowitz
Jewish Dems Praise President's Visionary and Practical Address
WASHINGTON,
DC- The National Jewish Democratic Council congratulates President
Obama on a visionary and practical State of the Union address. NJDC
Executive Director, Rabbi Jack Moline said:
"The
President's agenda- environmental responsibility, protection of voting
rights, educational excellence, immigration reforms and financial
security for all - speaks to the proactive values the Jewish community
embraces, especially providing a livable minimum wage and pursuing
gender equality in the marketplace.
NJDC's
work in 2014 will promote the values espoused by the President, with
particular emphasis on promoting the landmark Affordable Care Act. NJDC
will encourage all members, especially younger people, to register for
health care coverage under the new provisions.
Last,
but certainly not least, NJDC is grateful for the continued bi-partisan
support for the State of Israel. Once again, the Administration has
been explicit about supporting Israel's security and essential national
character."
###
NJDC maximizes
Jewish support for Democrats at the federal and state levels of
government.
NJDC
also educates Democratic elected officials and candidates to increase
support for Jewish domestic and foreign policy priorities.
We do this to promote both social justice in America and a secure,
democratic Jewish State of Israel.
House
Speaker John Boehner
Boehner Statement on the State of the Union
Address
WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)
issued the following statement in response to the president’s State of
the Union Address and the Republican Address to the Nation.
“In one of the great traditions of our democracy, the president
is invited to the House chamber each year to discuss how he and
Congress can work together for the American people. After five years,
President Obama is clearly out of ideas. With few bipartisan proposals,
Americans heard a president more interested in advancing ideology than
in solving the problems regular folks are talking about. Instead of our
areas of common ground, the president focused too much on the things
that divide us – many we’ve heard before – and warnings of unilateral
action. The president must understand his power is limited by our
constitution, and the authority he does have doesn’t add up to much for
those without opportunity in this economy. The real answer for the
president is to refocus his priorities and work with us on the things
that we can achieve together to create jobs and promote greater
opportunity: expanded markets for American exports, a solution to our
broken immigration system, better skills and education programs, patent
reform, new energy and water infrastructure, or any of the dozens of
other House-passed bills awaiting action.
“Unlike the president, Cathy McMorris Rodgers delivered a
personal message that transcended politics. She showed that when we
focus on empowering people, rather than government, we can close the
opportunity gap in America and allow people to meet their potential.
She made clear that Republicans are not just the alternative party, but
the party with better solutions. I applaud her for a job well done.”
Senate Republican Leader Mitch
McConnell
McConnell Comments on State of the Union Address
“If the President really wants a ‘Year of Action,’ there are plenty
of good ideas that the two parties can agree on: passing House-approved
jobs bills in the Senate designed to get Americans back to work,
revenue-neutral tax reform, trade promotion legislation, and the
Keystone pipeline.
“The President also tried to put a positive spin on the disaster
that is Obamacare, but the American people are not fooled by a deeply
flawed health care law that is driving up premiums and deductibles and
causing people to lose coverage. He even tried to sell Kentucky’s
Obamacare bureaucracy as a success story, but he failed to mention the
stories that I’m hearing from Kentuckians: restricted access to doctors
and hospitals, lost jobs, lower wages, fewer choices, higher costs.
Thanks to Obamacare, more than a quarter million Kentuckians received
cancellation notices for plans they had and presumably wanted to keep
and premiums have increased an average of 47 percent in Kentucky
according to a recent survey, and in some cases more than 100 percent.
And the cost to the taxpayer? $253 million. That’s how much
Washington
has spent so far for these results in Kentucky.
“A State of the Union address should point the way to what’s
possible when the two parties work together. What we did not get is
real, bipartisan solutions for the failures of Obamacare and the Obama
economy.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Reid Statement
On President Obama’s State Of The Union Address
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued
the following statement after President Obama’s State of the Union
address:
“President Obama tonight described the progress we’ve made as a
nation and pointed the way to where we need to go. Middle class
families in Nevada and all across the country are working harder than
ever and they are looking to us in Washington to do our jobs as well.
Giving hard-working Americans a raise by increasing the minimum wage is
a good place to start. The Senate will vote on this proposal in the
coming weeks, and I hope Republicans will join us in turning this and
other common-sense proposals into law. When everyone has a shot at the
American Dream, our entire nation prospers.”
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Pelosi Statement on President Obama’s
State of the Union Address
Contact: Drew Hammill
Washington,
D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement
tonight after President Obama delivered his State of the Union address
to a Joint Session of Congress:
“Tonight, President Obama
spoke directly to the highest aspirations of the American people by
defining a vision of opportunity and optimism for our future. His
initiatives will build an economy that works for everyone. His
pledge
of a year of action must be met with a firm promise of partnership in
Congress. House Democrats stand ready to do our part.
“The
President’s address focused on one of the core challenges facing our
economy today: closing the opportunity gap. To meet this
challenge, we
agree that it is long past time to secure universal pre-K for our
children, make college more affordable for our students, and raise the
minimum wage for our workers. It is time to empower women in the
workforce – because when women succeed, America succeeds. It is
time
to work in a bipartisan way to uphold our values and enact
comprehensive immigration reform.
“Our country has come a long
way in the past five years, with businesses creating 8 million new jobs
over the past 46 months. Yet there’s still far more work to do to
create jobs and strengthen the middle class. It is up to all of
us to
work together to reignite the American Dream and build ladders of
opportunity for all.”
# # #
Assorted Interest
Groups
AARP
AARP CEO Responds to State of the
Union Address
WASHINGTON—AARP CEO A. Barry Rand released this statement
following tonight’s State of the Union Address by President Obama:
“The President’s speech tonight addressed issues AARP has been
working on since long before President Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty
began over 50 years ago. Social Security and Medicare have helped
make
a difference by protecting the middle class and keeping millions out of
poverty, but many families and Americans of all ages continue to
struggle.
“As we look toward this season of new budget proposals, we also urge
the President and Congress to fight for responsible solutions to
strengthen Medicare and Social Security. If our elected officials
truly do want to fight economic inequality and poverty, they cannot do
so with shortsighted changes that would hurt families and further
undermine the financial security of the middle class in any
generation. The President and Congress have an opportunity to
reaffirm
the importance of the earned benefits of Medicare and Social Security,
and to thereby strengthen our families, the middle class, and the
American dream.
“Asking the business community to hire the long-term unemployed
takes an important first step toward helping millions of jobseekers
find work, and mirrors AARP’s own initiative with employers who pledge
to value experienced workers and give them a fair shot. However,
due
in part to age discrimination, older workers experience longer periods
of unemployment, and are more likely to be among the long-term
unemployed.
“Extending unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed would
also provide relief to many long-term jobless workers, as would passage
of the Protecting
Older
Workers
Against
Discrimination
Act, a bill that addresses the
underlying issue of age discrimination and would help ensure a fairer
workplace for older Americans.
“The creation of starter retirement savings accounts, known as
‘MyRA,’ could help encourage more private retirement savings for those
without employer plans. This new savings proposal could be more
effective if paired with automatic savings options and investor
protections.
“AARP will continue to raise our voice on behalf of older Americans
and the benefits they have earned and need. We look forward to working
with President Obama and members of Congress from both parties to
bolster health and retirement security for today’s seniors and future
generations.”
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership
of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams
into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the
issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and
income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and
protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the
marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and
value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain
discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A
trusted
source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP
produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine;
AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP
en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and
needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office
or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The
AARP
Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection,
and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of
volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
###
America's Voice
Frank Sharry Reacts to Immigration Remarks in
SOTU Address
The following is a statement from Frank Sharry, Executive Director
of America’s Voice, in response to the immigration portion of tonight’s
State of the Union address:
We didn’t expect much from the speech on immigration
reform, and the President met our expectations. But we
understand. In
the crazy world of Washington, DC, the more he says about immigration
reform, the more Republicans are likely to resist it. In fact,
you
could say that he wants immigration reform legislation so badly, he
downplayed it in the speech. In any case, his call for reform
would
have been even stronger had he said he would use his pen and phone to
stop deporting immigrants who are on the cusp of legalizing their
status under pending legislation.
The bottom line is that the most important event this week
regarding
the fate of immigration reform is not the State of the Union speech in
the U.S. Capitol, but the House Republican retreat in Maryland.
That’s
where the House Republicans will review draft principles and decide
whether to move forward on reform. The ball is in their court.
American Federation of Teachers
For Immediate Release January 28, 2014 Contact:Marcus Mrowka
AFT President Randi
Weingarten on President Obama’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON—
Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on President Obama’s State
of the Union address. Two AFT members joined first lady Michelle Obama
to watch the address: Washington, D.C. Teacher of the Year Kathy
Hollowell-Makle, and Antoinette Tuff, a DeKalb County, Ga. bookkeeper
who talked down a shooter at the elementary school where she worked.
“We
are a stronger nation when we champion opportunity, reward work and
create a path to success for all of our citizens. The forward-seeking
agenda that President Obama laid out tonight combats the economic
inequality many working Americans face with real and practical
solutions that raise people up—not deepen wealth divisions—by
increasing the minimum wage and putting Americans back to work in
good
jobs with family-friendly policies like paid sick leave, expanding
early childhood education, making college affordable, and creating a
new retirement savings program called MyRA. And by using the first
words of his address to honor the dedication of teachers, the president
highlighted the importance of educators and our schools in helping our
children achieve their dreams. We cannot rest until we fully
re-establish the steps on the ladder to opportunity and give working
families a shot at the American dream. The president has heard the
American people, and we now must heed his call for action.
“A
vibrant economy and a high-quality public education system have been
and always will be intertwined. It’s no coincidence that when our
nation summoned the political will to launch a war on poverty 50 years
ago, we not only slashed poverty rates, put Americans back to work and
rebuilt communities, but also witnessed a rapid spike in student
achievement that has yet to be repeated. The black-white reading gap
alone shrank by two-thirds from the 1960s to the 1980s.
“While
we can’t replicate today the same strategies employed 50 years ago, the
American people need leaders willing to expand opportunity and help
re-create a path to the middle class. We must build on what the
president laid out tonight. It starts with investing in early childhood
education, making college affordable, making public schools the center
of communities, and, equipping students with essential life skills and
offering multiple paths to graduation and the world of work through
rigorous career and technical education programs. We need to reject
sequestration and austerity, and invest in the services that keep our
communities safe and vibrant and our families healthy. We need good
jobs with living wages and opportunities for workers to develop new
skills and compete in a changing workforce; unions can play an
important role in both creating a highway to the middle class for
workers, and partnering with government and the private sector to
create career-ladder opportunities like we’ve done for
paraprofessionals in New York City, Baltimore and elsewhere. We need to
do more to ensure people have a secure retirement after a lifetime of
hard work. We can create good jobs today and invest in our future by
putting Americans back to work rebuilding our infrastructure. And we
need to stop just debating it and finally pass comprehensive
immigration reform to end exploitation and strengthen our economy.
“The
American people expect and deserve their leaders to act on their behalf
to move an agenda the expands economic opportunity and reclaims the
promise of public education for all children. With too many families
still feeling the sting of an economy tilted against them, we simply
can’t wait.”
###
American Immigration Council
Immigration Reform and the State of the Union
Washington D.C. -
Tonight, President Barack Obama pressed the reset button and laid out
his priorities for 2014—and, ultimately, the final leg of his
presidency. During the State of the Union
address, the President discussed the need to create jobs and greater
opportunity for all. He also made it clear that immigration reform
and
economic recovery go hand-in-hand, and he expects the House of
Representatives to make the next move on immigration reform. The
President said:
“Finally, if we are serious about economic growth, it is time to heed
the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, and law
enforcement – and fix our broken immigration system. Republicans
and
Democrats in the Senate have acted. I know that members of both
parties in the House want to do the same. Independent economists
say
immigration reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by
almost $1 trillion
in the next two decades. And for good reason: when people come
here to
fulfill their dreams – to study, invent, and contribute to our culture
– they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to
locate and create jobs for everyone. So let’s get immigration
reform
done this year.”
The President’s inclusion of immigration as a matter of economic
necessity reinforces efforts over the last few years to redefine how we
think about immigration reform. Immigrants create jobs as consumers and
entrepreneurs and spend their wages in U.S. businesses—buying food,
clothes, appliances, cars, etc. This builds our economy as businesses respond
to the presence of these new workers and consumers by investing in new
restaurants, stores, and production facilities. Also immigrants are 30 percent more likely than the native-born to
start their own business. The end result is more jobs for more workers.
The President’s message on immigration extended beyond his speech.
Immigrants and immigration activists attended as guests of Congress and
the First Lady. Mrs. Obama invited two immigrants to attend as her guests: Cristian Avila, a DREAMer and DACA recipient who recently completed a 22-day fast on the National Mall in support of
immigration reform and Carlos Arredondo, a Costa-Rican-American peace
activist made famous by his heroic acts after the Boston Marathon
bombing.
These guests remind us of the humanitarian nature of immigration reform
that cannot, and should not be overlooked. As we grapple with
efforts
to create a more just and equal system in which everyone has a fair
shot at economic prosperity, we cannot forget the need for a fair and
just immigration system. Deportations that separate families,
disrupt
businesses, and destroy hopes and dreams help no one and ultimately do
not reflect our tradition as a nation of immigrants.
Tonight, the President reiterated that he is prepared to use the
authority of his office to push a range of initiatives
forward. Thus,
if 2014 is to truly be a year of action and opportunity, we encourage
the president not only to support efforts to complete immigration
reform, but to do all in his power to end needless costs—to families,
to workers, and to the economy—of an immigration system that does not
fulfill the promise of America.
###
For press inquiries, contact Wendy Feliz
Americans for Prosperity
AFP on State of the Union: Obama Wants to Change the Subject
Arlington, VA – AFP President Tim Phillips offered this response to
President Obama’s State of the Union address:
“Tonight, the president did his best to shift attention away from
the disastrous impact ObamaCare is having on millions of Americans. He
would rather not talk about his ‘Lie of the Year’ that has led to
cancelled plans, skyrocketing medical bills, and lost access to doctors.
“President Obama certainly didn’t talk about Emilie, who was sitting in the audience
while he spoke. Emilie was diagnosed with a life-changing
disease when she was only 27-years-old.
“Emilie voted for Barack Obama, and believed that ObamaCare would
make things better. Sadly, Emilie’s insurance plan was
cancelled because of ObamaCare. Emilie had pre-existing
conditions and still lost
her coverage. Even though her chronic illness makes everyday life
difficult, she now works two jobs just to make ends meet and pay the
extra $6,000 that her ObamaCare mandated plan now costs.”
Earlier today, AFP announced the launch of a major national ad buy
featuring Emilie’s story of ObamaCare’s negative impact.
“Emilie is suffering the consequences of President Obama’s broken
promises — and unfortunately, she’s not alone,” continued Phillips.
“Millions of Americans are in similar situations, and deserve better
than to be ignored by the president.”
AFP Brings Personal Message to President Obama:
"ObamaCare is Hurting People Like Me"
Emilie, whose coverage was
cancelled due to ObamaCare, will attend the SOTU as a guest of Rep.
Marsha Blackburn
Arlington, VA – Today Americans for Prosperity, the nation’s largest
grassroots advocate for health care freedom, announced the launch of a
major national TV ad effort that shares a powerful personal story of
how ObamaCare is causing cancelled plans and skyrocketing health care
costs.
The new ad shares the experience of Emilie, a woman suffering from a
chronic illness who had her plan cancelled due to ObamaCare, and has
had to take on a second job just to pay for the more expensive plan she
is forced to buy. Emilie’s story begins airing this week on
national
cable outlets.
Previewing Obama’s State of the Union speech, AFP President Tim
Phillips said, “Tonight,
President Obama will attempt to change the subject away from the
millions of Americans who have been hurt by his ‘greatest’ achievement
and signature health care law. People like Emilie have been hurt by
ObamaCare. They’ve had their plans cancelled, costs skyrocket, and in
many cases, lost access to their doctor. The American people deserve
better than more broken promises.”
Emilie, age 39, voted for President Obama, and thought the ACA
was going to work. She works for a CPA and cares for her mother.
She suffers from a chronic illness called Lupus.
She described the health care plan she had as “stellar AND
affordable.”
Now, the plan she liked has been cancelled, and she is struggling
to make ends meet with $6,000 higher out of pocket health care costs
(even after factoring in a small subsidy she is eligible for).
Emilie says she is disappointed that President Obama broke his
promise. The result of ObamaCare is that people like Emilie are getting
hurt.
Business Roundtable
Business Roundtable Urges
Intensified
Focus on Growth and Jobs
Calls on Nation’s
Leaders to Turn Words
into Action by Reforming Tax and Immigration, and Passing Trade
Promotion
Authority
Washington – Business Roundtable President
John Engler issued the following statement in response to President
Barack
Obama’s State of the
Union address:
“Tonight the President
made several strong points on forging compromise with
Congress and moving our economy forward, and
we are hopeful leaders
of both
parties will work together on critical issues that would result in
strong
growth and jobs for
Americans.
“Business Roundtable calls on the President and Congress to follow up
immediately on these expressions of goodwill by passing
laws to unlock
the full
potential of the U.S. economy. They should start by getting serious
about tax
reform, quickly enacting
immigration
reform and passing Trade Promotion
Authority. Progress on these fronts will give an immediate boost to the
economy
and demonstrate that the President and Congress are serious about
spurring
investment and creating American jobs.
“The President and
Congress should also work to end the era of political
gamesmanship regarding fiscal issues such as the
debt ceiling and the
budget
process, and act in a way that preserves the strength of our economy.
“Business Roundtable
members stand ready to assist the President and Congress
to overcome the obstacles that are preventing a robust economic
recovery. With
compromise, action and goodwill, we can revive economic growth and put
Americans back to work.”
Campaign to Fix the Debt
For Immediate Release
Date: January 28, 2014
Contact: Stark Sutton
Statement from the Campaign to Fix the Debt on the State of the
Union Address
We are disappointed that President Obama did not choose to place
a greater focus
on our nation’s long-term debt problems in tonight’s State of the Union
address. The
President should be actively working with Congress seeking solutions to
our debt
problem rather than relegating it to the political sidelines. The State
of the Union was
a chance for him to lead on this issue instead of leaving these tough
choices to be
made by the next President.
“The declining deficit and the President’s lack of focus on the
nation’s fiscal situation
has lulled many into a false sense of security, but the fact remains
that the debt is at
historically high levels and is slated to continue to grow
unsustainably later this
decade,” said Maya MacGuineas, head of the Campaign to Fix the Debt.
“Rationalizing our spending and dealing with the longer-term
debt problems would
help free up the space for the kind of investments in infrastructure,
education, and
worker training that President Obama called for tonight; investments
that could help
add jobs and promote economic mobility. What we need though is a
comprehensive
economic growth strategy that includes smart investments and reforms
partnered
with measures to get the long-term debt under control--otherwise the
looming debt
will continue to threaten our future prosperity.
“Every day that we fail to deal with the long-term drivers of
the debt – including out-
of-control entitlement spending and trillions of dollars of tax
loopholes – is a day lost
in making these changes in a smart and thoughtful way that would help
grow the
economy. While it may be politically convenient for politicians to try
to avoid facing
real budgetary tradeoffs, failing to do so puts at risk the economy and
our citizenry.
Tonight the President missed an important opportunity to get the
process of
confronting these issues underway.”
###
For more information about the
Campaign to Fix the Debt, please visit
www.fixthedebt.org.
Digital 4th
Digital 4th Releases Statement in Reaction to the State of
the Union
WASHINGTON
— Following President Obama's State of the Union
Address, Greg Nojeim, Senior Counsel at the Center for Democracy &
Technology (CDT) and a member of the Digital 4th coalition, released
this statement:
“We
are
disappointed
that
President
Obama
failed
to
endorse
ECPA reform
during his State of the Union
Address. In neglecting to discuss an update to email privacy laws, he
missed an opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to protecting
Americans’ private online communications from unwarranted government
intrusion. As the address fell on Data Privacy Day, it would have
been
the opportune moment for the President to show that he is serious about
privacy reform.”
“ECPA
reform
has
broad
bipartisan
support,
with
legislation
pending
in
both
the House and the Senate. We will continue to work with Congress to
pass bipartisan ECPA reform this year to ensure that Americans’ emails
stored in the cloud receive the same protections as the documents
stored in their desk drawers.”
###
Dream Action Coalition
Contact:
Cesar Vargas
**Statement **
No More Words. Stop
Deportations Now.
Washington,
D.C.
– The
Dream
Action
Coalition
released
the
following
statement
on
the
President’s
5th
State
of
the
Union
speech: Tonight
at the
State of
the Union address, President Obama once again spoke about the need for
immigration reform: "If we
are serious
about economic growth, it is time to heed the call of business leaders,
labor
leaders, faith leaders, and law enforcement – and fix our broken
immigration
system." We were
hopeful
that
President Obama would outline an ambitious new plan or offer more forms
of
executive relief to stop deportations. The President did not even
mention a
word on deportations. Although
Obama had
sympathetic rhetoric, we have seen this fall through before when he was
not
able to reform immigration in his first year as promised. While much of
the
blame falls on the GOP for obstructing solutions, ultimately, via
separation of
powers, it is the Executive, the Obama Administration, upon which
responsibility for deportations rest. "The
President must acknowledged that
his administration has deported almost 2 million undocumented
immigrants. We
are urging that the President halt deportations and end a crisis of
family
separation. As Dreamers, we will continue to organize the American
people and
undocumented community to hold accountable the President for every
deported
parent, for every deported child and for every family separated under
his
administration. We had enough with words. We need action," said Cesar
Vargas, co-Director of the Dream Action Coalition.
###
Dream
Action
Coalition
serves
as
a
voice
for
undocumented
youth
and
lobbying
arm
of
the
dream
movement.
Our
work
ensures that undocumented youth are represented in
the halls
of power and are correctly and directly informed of the actions of
Congress, Executive
Agencies, and the Courts.
Enroll America Statement on the State of
the Union Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Washington, DC - Today, Enroll America
issued the
following statement from their president Anne Filipic in response to
the State of the Union address:
“Tonight President Obama called on every American to talk to the
uninsured people in their lives – mother to child, neighbor to neighbor
– about the importance of getting covered. That is a call our hundreds
of staffers and thousands of volunteers are echoing in communities
across the country every single day. More than nine million
Americans
have already found coverage through Medicaid and the Marketplace. We’re
glad the President asked Americans to join the effort, and we’ll
continue to expand our campaign over the next two months to make sure
as many people as possible can have the peace of mind that comes with
quality, affordable health insurance.”
###
About Get Covered America and Enroll America
Get Covered America is a national campaign
of
Enroll America that is focused on educating consumers about the
benefits of health coverage and the new health insurance options
available under the Affordable Care Act. With operations in eleven
states (AZ, FL, GA, IL, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN and TX), our grassroots
team is powered by passionate staff and volunteers with one motivating
goal: to give Americans the information they need to choose an
affordable health insurance plan that’s right for them and their
families.
Enroll America is the nation’s leading
health care
enrollment coalition, bringing together community and health
organizations, businesses and others to inform consumers about new
health coverage options and how to enroll in them. It is an
independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Family Research Council
State of the Union Address At Odds with Religious Freedom, Core
American Values
Washington, D.C. - Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released
a
video and the following statement in response to President
Obama's State of the Union Address:
"Tonight the President said one of the best 'investments we can make
in a child's life is a high quality early education.' Mr. President,
you neglected to mention the very best investment in a child's life - a
married mom and dad. A recent Harvard University study found that
children raised by intact families have greater social mobility than
their single-parented peers. The President also said the 'best measure
of opportunity is access to a good job.' No, Mr. President, it is a
married mom and dad.
"President Obama's remarks didn't address a key reason why our
economy is just bumping along - the continued dissolution of the
American family. Only 45 percent of our 17 year-old children have grown
up in an intact married family. The mother and father of the remaining
55 percent have at some time rejected each other as husband and wife.
An intact family is better off financially than one that is broken. Its
children do better in school and graduate from college in greater
numbers than those from broken homes. His policies penalize marriage
and families, which are vital to economic fairness and success. It is
unfair to penalize marriage in the tax code, and it doesn' make
economic sense.
"President Obama also failed to address how his policies undermine
religious freedom. Obamacare contains a rule that requires employers
such as Christian colleges, religious hospitals, and faith-based
businesses to offer their employees health care plans that cover pills
and procedures that go against their deeply held convictions. If they
don' agree, they face crippling fines. Employers should not have to
choose between violating their consciences or paying severe fines that
threaten jobs and could even force them to drop health coverage for
their employees. This rule, or mandate, hurts families and women. It's
unfair and, thankfully, most Americans oppose it. I hope the President
will listen to them. From bakers in Oregon to photographers in New
Mexico and court clerks in New York, people whose convictions are
grounded in historic Christian teaching are being told there is no room
for them in public life. Mr. President, it's not an American value to
trample someone else' conscience. It's not an American value to repress
someone' practice of his or her religion. It's not an American value to
use the federal government to undermine the will of the people in the
states that believe marriage is between a man and woman and that
children do best with a mom and dad.
"If we want real hope and change, we'll enact policies that build
stronger families and a stronger economy, preserve our heritage of
religious liberty and protect, rather than undermine marriage, oncluded
Perkins.
SOTU: President Offers Conflicting
Policy Goals on Immigration and Income Inequality, Charges FAIR
Threat to Impose
Amnesty by Executive Fiat Must Be Opposed by the House
(Washington, D.C. January 28, 2014) In his State of
the Union
(SOTU) address, President Obama urged Congress to “make this a year of
action.” Prominent on his list of domestic policy priorities outlined
in the address were: (1) creating opportunities for the struggling
middle class; and (2) granting amnesty to an estimated 12 million
illegal aliens and significantly increasing future immigration.
“These two policy goals are mutually incompatible,” charged Dan
Stein, president of the Federation
for
American
Immigration
Reform
(FAIR). “With 92 million working age Americans either unemployed,
under-employed, or not participating in the labor market, the
president’s immigration agenda would only further depress the wages of
most American workers. No amount of government regulation, or mandated
increases in the minimum wage, will narrow the income gap so long as
the supply of labor dramatically exceeds the demand for workers.”
President Obama’s immigration agenda, encompassed by the Senate bill
(S. 744), would make 12 million illegal aliens immediately eligible to
compete legally for every job in the U.S. economy. It would also add 20
million new immigrant workers to the U.S. labor force within a decade.
“In an economy that created just 74,000 jobs last month, the
president’s immigration policies would decimate what remains of the
middle class he claims he wants to save,” observed Stein.
“Enforcing immigration laws and setting sensible limits on new
immigration are critical elements to any effort to boost the wages of
working Americans and entice millions of idle workers back into the
labor force,” Stein said. “The president already has the power to
discourage illegal immigration by enforcing laws against the employment
of illegal aliens. He already has a mandate from Congress to secure our
borders and deport illegal aliens when they are apprehended. Yet, the
president is openly defying these laws – the very laws that would aid
struggling American workers – in order to achieve his political goal of
amnesty for illegal aliens.”
Moreover, in his SOTU speech the President signaled he has no
intention of reversing course and faithfully executing our nation’s
immigration laws. Instead he offered House leaders an implicit threat
that if they do not act on his agenda he will assert executive
authority to unilaterally implement his policies. “[W]herever and
whenever I can take steps without legislation...that's what I'm going
to do,” he warned. President Obama has repeatedly abused executive
authority to grant de facto amnesty to entire classes of illegal aliens
and discretionary authority to ignore countless immigration statutes
during his five years in office.
“Before considering any new immigration legislation – especially
bills that would further undermine American workers, increase costs to
American taxpayers, and compromise national security – the House must
exercise its constitutional responsibility to hold the president
accountable for enforcing laws already on the books,” continued Stein.
“Americans consider it a priority that all branches of government
and both parties work together to bolster our sagging economy and
create conditions for all Americans to earn a dignified living. There
is little public support, or urgency, to grant amnesty to illegal
aliens or to increase the influx of new immigrants. The leadership of
the House must resist President Obama’s immigration agenda and his
threats to impose his will and, instead, concentrate on ensuring that
existing laws are carried out in the interests of the American people,”
Stein concluded.
Media Contact:
Ira Mehlman
Kristen Williamson
also this from the FAIR's Legislative
Update:
Illegal Aliens Attend State of the Union
For the second straight year, illegal aliens attended President
Obama's State of the Union Address as invited guests. Last night, at
least two illegal aliens were part of a group of "reformers" given the
opportunity to hear the president's speech in person as guests of
pro-amnesty Illinois Democratic Representatives Luis Gutierrez, Mike
Quigley, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Scheider, and Bill Foster. (USA Today,
Jan. 23, 2014) Amnesty champions Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA),
Joe Garcia (D-FL), and Jim Himes (D-CT) also had illegal aliens
accompany them this year. (thinkprogress.org, Jan. 28, 2014; NBC Miami, Jan. 28, 2014; Stamford Times, Jan. 27, 2014) Additionally,
First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed an illegal alien to her viewing box,
as she did last year. (AZ Central, Jan. 28, 2014; Las Vegas Sun,
Feb. 11, 2013) Also last year, Gutierrez, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Rep.
Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) hosted illegal aliens
for the 2013 address. (See NBC Latino, Feb. 12, 2013; Rep. Castor Press Release, Feb. 11, 2013)
FAIR blasted the welcome of immigration lawbreakers into the U.S.
Capitol for the president's yearly address. "It reinforced the one
message that for this president is unambiguous: Violating immigration
laws is just entirely inconsequential," said FAIR's Bob Dane. (USA Today,
Jan. 23, 2014) "The laws aren't being enforced, and here you go, the
public needs to get used to it. They can sit and stand anywhere they
want, including next to me in the U.S. Capitol." (Id.)
FreedomWorks
FreedomWorks Responds to the 2014 State of
the Union
Washington, DC- Following
the conclusion of President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union address,
FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe released the following statement in
response:
“For one of the longer State of the Union addresses in
U.S. history, I am disappointed at how few practical –and
constitutional- reform solutions the President actually proposed. Under
the Obama Administration’s policies, about 10.4 million Americans are
unemployed. At least 4.7 million Americans have already lost their
individual insurance because of ObamaCare, while Big Insurance’s
bailout in the first ten years of ObamaCare threatens to stick them
with an extra trillion-dollar bill to pay. The solution to these
problems is not another Executive Order. The solution is for the
Executive to get out of the way, and allow citizens the freedom to
pursue the opportunity to succeed.”
“If the President made one
thing clear tonight, it is this: It’s his way or the highway. The
President proposed almost a baker’s dozen of executive orders- a
complete dismissal of the American system of checks and balances.
Frustration with policy disagreements does not warrant an impatient
president to behave like a king. Congress must push back against the
Obama's attempts at unilateral action, because the process matters as
much as the policy itself.”
FreedomWorks is a grassroots service
center to a community of over 6 million activists who believe in
individual liberty and constitutionally-limited government. For more
information, please visitwww.FreedomWorks.org or contact Jackie Bodnar
at ..
Greenpeace
CONTACT: Greenpeace
Joe Smyth
Greenpeace Communications
Greenpeace Reaction to 2014 State of the Union
Address
WASHINGTON
- January 29 - In response to President Obama’s comments on climate
change in his State of the Union address, Greenpeace Executive Director
Phil Radford said:
"It’s good to hear that President Obama plans to move forward with
his plan to address climate change, but unfortunately, his
administration continues to undermine this plan by encouraging the
extraction of coal, oil, and gas from our public lands and waters,
unlocking huge quantities of carbon pollution. Adding insult to injury,
the fossil fuel industry hopes to boost exports of its dirty energy
abroad, from the Keystone XL pipeline to proposals to create huge coal
and LNG export facilities.
“Fossil fuel extraction and exports are a major blind spot in the
Obama administration’s climate plan that will continue to undermine
domestic and global efforts to reduce carbon pollution until the
President takes seriously the simple test he proposed last year: “Our
national interest will be served only if this project does not
significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution.
“If you want to bend history in one direction, you need to pick a
side and put your all into it. Unfortunately, the President continues
to stand right in the middle."
###
Independent
campaigning organization that uses non-violent, creative
confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force
solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.
The Heartland Institute
Heartland Institute Experts React to
President Obama’s State of the Union Address
The following statements reacting to President Barack Obama’s State
of the Union address Tuesday night from staff, fellows, and policy
advisors at The
Heartland Institute
– a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more
comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland
guest on your program, please contact Director of Communications Jim
Lakely ...
“The president displayed a remarkable lack of gravitas in his State
of the Union address. For a while, he was crouched over the lectern
leaning on his elbows, like a college professor leading a discussion
rather than the Leader of the Free World addressing the nation.
“There was so much else wrong with this speech. Taking credit for
things he’s done so much to prevent (like rising oil production), the
repetitive call-outs to sad sacks in the gallery in order to cite
anecdotes instead of making credible arguments, the incredibly
insulting and condescending notion that Congress should ‘give America a
raise’ by raising the minimum wage. Do we all work for government?
Would we not make more than $10 an hour unless government told our
employers to pay us at least this much? That line – ‘give America a
raise’ – should appear in dictionaries as part of the definition of
‘pandering.’
“His line about Obamacare – ‘come on guys, voting to repeal it 40
times is enough’ – trivialized an effort by a co-equal branch of
government to keep promises its members made to voters back home, to
repeal and replace legislation that was passed under false pretenses.
He mocked his critics when he should have been apologizing for telling
lies to the American people in order to get that legislation passed.
The right thing to have said is: ‘I apologize for misleading members of
Congress and the American people to get a piece of flawed legislation
enacted. Let’s work together to repeal and replace it with something
that can work.’”
“The president continues to place his faith in government programs
as a means to promote growth and prosperity. Economic history shows
government efforts to direct and control the economy tend to detract
from growth and impoverish people. America’s historical success is due
to an alternative – faith in the freedom of individuals and markets.
“By replacing individual freedom with government control and
direction, the president’s policies have produced the weakest recovery
in over a century. Had our forefathers placed their faith in government
instead of individuals, the U.S. today would be a third world nation.
By moving to replace our precious individual freedoms with
progressively more government control over the economy and markets, the
president opts for policies that will continue to erode the living
standards of most Americans.”
“The president says that the economy is improving substantially.
Sadly, the average worker does not believe that. As President Barack
Obama enters his sixth year in the White House, 68 percent of Americans
say the country is either stagnant or worse off since he took office,
according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.
“There is good reason for the pessimism.
In 2007, 66 percent of Americans over age 16 either had a job or were
looking for one. Today, that is down to 62.8 percent, the lowest
labor-force participation rate since 1978.”
“In his meandering mess of a speech, President Obama managed to
completely gloss over the relevant facts regarding the failures of his
signature health care law. Rather than admit the problems and apologize
for them, the president chose to ignore the millions of Americans
who’ve learned that even if they like their plan they can’t keep it, or
even if they like their doctor they can’t keep him. Instead, he based
his metric of success on the number of Americans signed up for
Medicaid, an already overburdened and failing entitlement system which
offers the false promise of care to millions of Americans.
“President Obama has made health care unaffordable for millions of
citizens while needlessly disrupting our economy. At most, his health
care exchanges are signing up 15 percent of the uninsured Americans
they were supposed to enroll. And why? Because the American people are
finding that the promises he made about bringing down the price of
health insurance for individuals and families were complete and utter
lies. If all the promises he’d made about Obamacare had come true, the
president’s speech would’ve been a victory lap. Instead, it’s a grim
insistence that his broken policy will endure, despite how much it has
hurt Americans across the country.”
“President Obama dares to say ‘research shows government preschool
is a great investment’ just a few months after yet another
highest-quality study shows it’s fool’s gold. The president apparently
prefers only the poor-quality research that supports his agenda of
saddling kids with debt while failing to equip them to pay it off.
“The president is quite bold to claim his micromanaging,
dictatorial education policies are already improving student
achievement when the statistics show his penchant for making laws
without Congress has slowed poor and minority kids’ achievement growth.
The Common Core education standards and tests his administration has
illegally pushed on schools still have no positive track record despite
millions spent, and millions more to come.”
“Claiming credit for Common Core by name is problematic for
President Obama because many parents and teachers (including even the
largest teachers’ union in New York State) are rebelling against this
nationalized, cookie-cutter model of education. However, by boasting of
his administration’s Race to the Top bribes to bring states on board –
plus its funding of the linked national assessments and curricular
materials – Obama implicitly took full ownership of Common Core last
night. To call it ObamaCore is no exaggeration. Indeed, its
implementation is proving to be every bit as productive for education
as ObamaCare is for health care.”
“I sat down at my television set with a yellow legal pad and a
mechanical pencil to take notes and jot down comments I’d like to make.
My legal pad is blank. I fell asleep and might still be asleep if my
daughter hadn’t nudged me awake. I’m not sure how long I was asleep, so
maybe I missed something important but I doubt it. I didn’t hear
anything inspiring, uplifting or amusing, aside from his quip about how
mothers might appreciate a phone call from their kids to help them sign
up for Obamacare.
“It seems to me if there was a theme that ran through his talk,
it’s that executive orders will drop from his pen like leaves from
trees on a breezy day in late fall. Congress should grow a spine and
remind the president that its job is to make the laws, and the
president’s job is to see that the laws are faithfully executed. That’s
why Congress is called the legislative branch of government and the
presidency is called the executive branch.”
“As a society, it is high time for us to recognize and embrace the
truth. Contrary to President Obama’s misguided assertion, carbon
dioxide is not a pollutant. Its increasing concentration only minimally
affects earth’s climate, while it offers tremendous benefits to the
biosphere. Efforts to regulate and reduce CO2 emissions are simply
ludicrous. They will hurt far more than they will help.”
“The president said ‘climate change is a fact’ and vowed action via
the Environmental Protection Agency in his State of Union Speech, but
he did not ask for any new legislation such as the cap-and-trade bill
he touted a year ago. As a scientist who knows without a doubt there is
no significant man-made global warming, perhaps I should be pleased the
president took a softer stance on the issue, But I am far from happy
about the state of affairs on the issue.
“It has become purely a rock-solid, lock-step political position of
the Democrat Party to believe in global warming, and of the Republican
Party to disbelieve. I see no hint that the leadership in either party
is truly interested in opening their minds to a scientific debate -- to
study the evidence and reach a reasoned non-politically motivated
position and take actions accordingly.
“Science and politics do not match well. Science is not settled by
a vote, and slogans and platform planks are not scientifically
significant. It is my deepest regret this has become a political issue.
I think we will make little progress in obtaining an open hearing from
the public as long as the political leaders line up their followers on
one side or the other.”
“President Obama seems to have toned down his climate rhetoric this
year given the obvious reality of no rising global temperatures for
17-plus years and the current cold snap gripping the nation. Saying the
phrase ‘climate change is a fact’ is meaningless.
“When our children look us in the eye, we want to tell them that
our generation rejected the belief that regulating emissions alters our
climate and weather. We want to tell our kids that we rejected the
belief that acts of Congress or the U.N. or the EPA could alter storms
or global climate. We want to say ‘Yes we did’ to our kids when they
ask us if we stopped bureaucrats at the EPA and in our government from
attempting to restrict our energy choices based on the belief
politicians can change the weather.”
“Mr. Obama is fortunate to be president during America’s energy
revolution. Extraction of oil and natural gas from dense shale is
occurring with no help from the administration. It is occurring on
private or state-controlled lands and driven by private initiatives.
According to 2012 statistics compiled by the Energy Information
Administration, the production of oil, natural gas, natural gas
liquids, and coal from federal lands and waters all fell. The
difference between what is occurring on non-federal lands and federal
lands demonstrates the economically punitive policies of this
administration.
“The president correctly stated that climate change is a fact. It
has been ongoing for hundreds of millions of years and there is little
governments can do to stop it. The great fear of global warming was
artificially contrived. For a president to declare that he will expand
executive powers, without Congressional approval, to fight this
non-threat is a drastic step towards authoritarian government. Already,
the administration has contrived an artificial concept called the
social cost of carbon. All life on the planet is carbon based. Is life
a pollutant? Does life have a social cost? The concept is an insult to
logic, language, and science.
“The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC)
has
produced
reports
reviewing
appropriate
scientific
papers
and
concluded
carbon
dioxide
emissions
are
not
a
major
cause
of
global
warming
or
climate change. Also, the reports cited thousands of studies
in laboratories and in the field that demonstrate increased atmospheric
carbon dioxide promotes growth of virtually all forms of green plants
and is a tremendous boon to agriculture and the environment. Three
decades of satellite observations confirm these findings.”
“Last night’s State of the Union Address reminds me of the idiom
‘on one hand, on the other hand.’ On one hand, President Obama extolled
efforts to increase fuel efficiency to ‘help America wean itself off
foreign oil.’ He touted the new reality of ‘more oil produced at home
than we buy from the rest of the world, the first time that’s happened
in nearly 20 years.’ On the other hand, he promised to use his
‘authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future
generations’ – which is code for more national monuments and endangered
species designations that will lock up federal lands from productive
use.
“He took credit for his ‘all of the above’ energy strategy, which
he claims has ‘moved America closer to energy independence than we have
been in decades.’ And, regarding natural gas, Obama said he’ll ‘cut red
tape to help states get those factories built and put folks to work.’
He also proclaimed: ‘I’ll act on my own to slash bureaucracy and
streamline the permitting process for key projects, so we can get more
construction workers on the job as fast as possible.’ Yet, the
Department of Energy has dozens of permits for liquefied natural gas
(LNG) export facilities languishing on some bureaucrat’s desk. One of
the few approved terminals – Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass LNG Terminal
Project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana – created more than 2,000 jobs in
2013 and looks to create another 2,000 jobs in 2014. Let’s get those
permits issued.
“On one hand, the president says he wants to help. On the other
hand, everything he does hinders.”
“In his State of the Union Address, President Obama asked whether
we will leave our children’s children with a safer, more stable world
with respect to the ‘settled’ issue of climate change. Why doesn’t
Obama apply the same standard when it comes to government spending?
“Reckless overspending in Washington is creating an unsustainable
mountain of debt that will be passed on to our children’s children. Yet
throughout his speech, Obama outlined additional spending initiatives
with no consideration of how they will be paid for. One such proposal
would create a new ‘minimum wage’ for federal contractors. This
gimmicky proposal will have little impact other than to force the
federal government to pay more for goods and services – additional
costs that will no doubt be passed on to future generations.
“If Obama is truly concerned about leaving our children’s children
with a safer, more stable world, he should start by cutting government
spending and reducing the tax burden on American workers so that the
economy will finally begin to grow and the private sector will create
jobs.”
“President Obama seems hell-bent on dismantling America and its
system of government one day at a time. He continues, in my opinion, to
cavalierly jettison the constitutional system of checks and balances
which was the genius of the Founding Fathers. First came the
unauthorized czars, and now we have the proclamation of anticipatory
end runs around the legislative branch through executive fiat using the
moniker of executive orders.
“These unilateral acts are those of a man who would be king, which
he is not. As I recall we fired the king more than 200 years ago.
Jefferson, Madison, and the legions who staked and gave their lives on
creating this republic to operate as a democracy are surely turning in
their graves.”
Kurtis B. Reeg
President/Managing Partner
Reeg Lawyers, LLC
Policy Advisor, Legal Affairs
The Heartland Institute kreeg@reeglawyers.com
314/446-3350
“Apart from throwing a few crumbs to his base, President Obama
produced nothing novel or interesting in his speech. But he did sadly
reaffirm his commitment to a virtually Utopian society in which
government takes the initiative on nearly all fronts. And that is
plainly not in the spirit of what is distinctively American or just.
“I had hoped for some learning from the president – to the effect
that the private sector is where solutions lie to nearly all our real
problems. Government’s only role must be, as Jefferson said, to ‘secure
[our] rights’ – not to train Americans for anything other than,
perhaps, defending the country from potential aggressors. It is not the
job of government to ‘give us a chance,’ since our form of government
doesn’t include some monarch handing out favors to subjects.”
Tibor
R.
Machan
Professor Emeritus of Philosophy
Auburn University
R. C. Hoiles Endowed Chair in Business Ethics and Free Enterprise
Argyros School of Business & Economics
Chapman University tmachan@gmail.com
312/377-4000
“From the SOTU, you’d never guess that we have a record low in
number of people employed, record levels of debt, abysmal international
standing in education, chaos in the Middle East, and millions losing
their health insurance. But we’re going to the Olympics, finding
natural gas (on private lands only), and planning (still) to close
Gitmo (thereby upholding our constitutional ideals). Amanda in Arizona
got health coverage, a small business opened in Detroit, and carbon
emissions are way down (no attribution given to our dismal economy).
All we need to do now is extend unemployment insurance, raise the
minimum wage, and end gun violence. That last bit is one of a number of
things Obama promises to do single handedly if Congress won’t cooperate.
“Now that ObamaCare has fixed health care, and reduced al Qaeda to
a mere remnant, we can move on to fixing education.
“From the enthusiastic applause, it would appear that Congress is
persuaded by this fantasy, though a few audience shots showed some
dour-looking Republicans. They’re the ones getting blamed for ‘creating
crises.’ Otherwise, all is well, and God bless America.
“What Obama delivered was a list of the same policies that have
ill-served the nation. After five years, we know that what he cannot do
is provide leadership sufficient to govern America. Foreign or
domestic, his policies have been marked by failure.
“On the long roster of issues he addressed, he placed an emphasis
on putting Americans to work again, but that remains a difficult goal
to achieve when his administration is scaling new heights in the
production of regulations that choke the nation’s business community,
from large corporations to small businesses. There was no mention of
the Keystone XL pipeline, which his own State Department estimated
could produce 42,000 jobs.
“He advocated raising the minimum wage when all that will
accomplish will be to reduce jobs and drive up costs to consumers.
“He dramatized Obamacare by using examples of people he said
benefitted from it, but made no mention of the millions who have or
will lose their health care plans and even their choice of a personal
physician.”
Alan
Caruba
Founder, The National Anxiety Center
Policy Advisor, The Heartland Institute acaruba@aol.com
312/377-4000
“President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday
night was all about ‘micro-management.’ It was micro-management at one
level since he realizes that a divided Congress will not pass any
‘grand’ legislation that he might try to submit. Thus, he proposed a
series of small changes that he hopes that either Congress would go
along with, or that he can try to impose through ‘executive order’
without Congressional approval.
“But the other level of his focus on micro-management highlights
the inescapable political paternalistic mindset in which he thinks:
He knows what wage government contractors should pay their
workers;
He knows how pre-kindergarten children should be taught;
He knows how businesses should organize their use of energy in
their manufacturing of products;
He knows how long people should be financially able to be
unemployed between jobs while looking for employment;
He knows how divergent income inequalities should or should not
be in America;
He knows how to create career opportunities for young people and
the type of education they should have available;
He knows the type and quality of health insurance and medical
care people should receive.
“This is why he has faced much of the congressional opposition,
over which he is clearly frustrated. Many people in the United States,
and their elected representatives, believe that these are not matters
for the government. These are matters that should be left up to the
judgment, planning, and decisions of individuals, families, and
voluntary agreements among people themselves in their communities and
in the workplace.
“The president’s government-imposed ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions
to what he considers to be America’s ‘problems’ are in stark contrast
to the diversity of America, and the more reasonable and
common-sensical view that people in their own circumstances and with
their own knowledge can far better handle their own problems than
someone in a far-away national capital with none of the real
micro-knowledge of people’s lives. This partly explains the president’s
low poll ratings. People come to resent the arrogant ‘do-gooder’ who
presumes to know better how people should live than those people
themselves.”
“President Obama mentioned his desire to see election reforms,
including ‘reforms so that no one has to wait more than a half hour to
vote.’ For all its conveniences, early voting threatens the basic
nature of citizen choice in democratic, republican government.
“In elections, candidates make competing appeals to the people and
provide them with the information necessary to be able to make a
choice. Citizens also engage with one another, debating and
deliberating about the best options for the country. Especially in an
age of so many nonpolitical distractions, it is important to preserve
the space of a general election campaign -- from the early kickoff
rallies to the last debates in October -- to allow voters to think
through, together, the serious issues that face the nation.
“The integrity of that space is broken when some citizens cast
their ballots as early as 46 days before the election, as some states
allow. A lot can happen in those 46 days. Early voters are, in essence,
asked a different set of questions from later ones; they are voting
with a different set of facts.”
“President Obama does not seem to grasp the fact that in a
free-market economy an employee gets a raise by showing his or her
employer that their value has increased through more training, skill
acquisition, education, or productivity gains. Workers who are
currently paid less than $10.10 are so because their contribution to
total revenue is less than $10.10 per hour.”
“I fully support the president's proposal to increase the minimum
wage. However, if this will work as the president believes to increase
employment and reduce income inequality in America, would it not do the
same for other countries as well? Therefore, America should eliminate
foreign aid and tell our former aid recipients to simply raise their
minimum wage. If it works for us, it will work for them as well.
“Our aid recipients are likely more savvy than our president and I
would expect few to accept the advice.”
The Heartland
Institute
is a 30-year-old national nonprofit organization headquartered in
Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote
free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more
information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000.
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike
Association
SOTU Reaction from the International
Bridge, Tunnel and
Turnpike Association
IBTTA Applauds President for
Emphasizing Need to Create Jobs Rebuilding Our Nation’s Transportation
Infrastructure
Urges President and Congress to Give States “Maximum
Flexibility” to Solve Highway Funding Crisis
WASHINGTON,
DC – After President Barack Obama delivered the 2014 State of
the Union Address, Patrick
Jones, Executive Director and CEO of the International Bridge, Tunnel
and Turnpike Association, the worldwide association representing
toll facility owners and operators and the businesses that serve them,
released
the following statement:
“We
applaud President Obama for shining a bright light on the need ‘to
create jobs
rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes –
because in
today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class
infrastructure. We’ll need Congress to protect more than three
million
jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer.’ We
also
salute the Congress for making plans to move forward with timely
reauthorization of MAP-21.
“The
transportation funding needs of states are great. The resources of the
federal
government are limited. Therefore, we ask Congress and the President to
give
states maximum flexibility to meet their individual transportation
funding
needs, including the use of tolling on the existing Interstate highway
system.
“While
we respect the President’s willingness ‘to create jobs rebuilding our
roads,’
we know that no one source of revenue can be sufficient to build,
maintain, and
reconstruct our nation’s bridges, tunnels, and highways. Now is the
time for
Congress, the President, and other elected leaders to seriously
consider all
options to meet our country’s transportation funding needs. Tolling is
one of
the most powerful, effective, and proven tools in the funding toolbox.”
“The
more than 60 U.S. toll agency members of IBTTA generate more than
$10 billion per year in toll revenue, and most of them receive no
federal
or state funds to support their day-to-day operations. That means their
contribution to highway operations and maintenance is already equal to
nearly
one-third of the federal gas tax revenues collected each year.”
Earlier
this month, IBTTA submitted testimony for the record to the U.S. House
Transportation and Infrastructure committee hearing on Building
the
Foundation
for
Surface
Transportation
Reauthorization.
IBTTA’s written
testimony stressed the important role
tolling plays in establishing a direct link between the roads motorists
use and
the fees they pay:
“The
use of tolls is a central component to this nation’s transportation
funding
system. Tolls establish a direct connection between the use of the road
and
payment for that use. For too long, motorists have falsely believed our
roads
are free. Our highways are not free nor have they ever been. However,
it’s easy
to see why that misperception persists. There is no direct link between
paying
the fuel tax and using the roads it funds. Tolling re-establishes that
connection.”
In
2013, IBTTA launched Moving
America
Forward, a public awareness
campaign that highlights the benefits of tolling to elected officials,
policymakers, the media, and the general public. For additional
information on
the campaign, including fact sheets, background documents, and other
materials,
please click here.
# # #
The
International
Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the
worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities
and the
businesses that serve them. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more
than 20
countries and on six continents. Through advocacy, thought leadership
and
education, members are implementing state-of-the-art, innovative
user-based
transportation financing solutions to address the critical
infrastructure challenges
of the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ibtta.org
or join us on Twitter @IBTTA or #TollRoads.MomsRising.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, 29 January 2014
CONTACT:
Brett Abrams
MomsRising.org Executive Director Praises President Obama for
Putting Family Economic Security Issues Center Stage
WASHINGTON
DC — Statement by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director of
MomsRising.org, on last night’s State of the Union address and
President Obama putting family economic security issues center-stage:
“Last
night’s State of the Union Address was an historic one. For the first
time ever, a President of the United States squarely put center stage
the issues that most affect the economic security of America’s families
and of our nation: Fair pay, early learning and childcare, the minimum
wage, sick days, family leave, health care, childhood obesity, gun
safety, climate change, immigration policy reform, and more.
“Every
year, MomsRising has encouraged its members to play “State of the Union
BINGO,” tracking whether the President addresses the issues on the
MomsRising agenda. This year, across the county, we were yelling
‘BINGO!’ This was the year that the economic issues that most effect
moms and their families finally broke out of their silo and onto the
top of the national agenda.
“MomsRising has been working hard
over the last year to help these issues rise to the top. We have
delivered hundreds of thousands of signatures on letters and petitions,
thousands of personal stories, and our members have made phone calls,
made personal visits, attended meetings, and sent emails to policy
makers urging them to take action on these ‘kitchen table’ issues. From
pushing for an increase in the minimum wage to pressing for passage of
the Paycheck Fairness Act to calling for paid leave policies, from
fighting for health care to working toward sick days, we have been out
there every day pushing for policies that will help our national
economy and our families thrive. And last night we proved that the
voices of moms are a mighty force, indeed. Mom Power is real and moms
are powerful.
“MomsRising, and its more than one million
members, and the hundreds of allied organizations we work with, stand
ready to support the President in achieving his agenda. An agenda that
will boost women, mothers, children, families, and our national
economy. We are invigorated and energized. Moms have shown that we are
a powerful political force and we are ready to see our agenda embodied
in law.”
MomsRising.orgis
an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than a
million people who are working to achieve economic security for all
families in the United States. MomsRising is working for paid family
leave, flexible work options, affordable childcare, and for an end to
the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many
others.
MomsRising also advocates for better childhood nutrition, health care
for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all
children can have a healthy start. Established in 2006, MomsRising and
its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy
and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically
important to America’s families. In 2013, Forbes.com named MomsRising’s
web site as one of the Top 100 Websites For Women for the fourth year
in a row and Working Mother magazine included MomsRising on its “Best
of the Net” list.
National Association of Home Builders
Statement from NAHB Chairman Rick Judson on President Obama’s State
of the Union Address
January 28, 2014 - Rick Judson, chairman of the National
Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Charlotte,
N.C., issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s State
of the Union address:
“NAHB agrees with President Obama that ‘the
most important investment many families make is their home.’
Homeownership is an important part of the American Dream, but too many
creditworthy borrowers are still unable to purchase a home of their own.
“Nothing
packs a bigger economic punch than home building. Building 100,000
homes creates more than 300,000 full-time jobs and $8.9 billion in tax
revenues that are essential to help local communities build schools,
hire police and firefighters, and fix roads.
“With the right
policies in place, housing can lead the economy to higher ground.
Tonight, the President called on Congress to send him legislation that
will avoid another housing crisis and ‘keeps the dream of homeownership
alive for future generations.’
“NAHB looks forward to working
with the Administration and members of Congress in a bipartisan spirit
to enact meaningful housing finance reform that will ensure a
consistent flow of credit for qualified home buyers and offer
affordable rental housing opportunities. Such a plan must provide
proper federal support that will protect 30-year mortgages, limit
taxpayer exposure, encourage increased participation from the private
sector, and ensure liquidity and stability for homeownership and rental
housing.”
National Council of La
Raza
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
January 28, 2014
Joseph Rendeiro
NCLR Welcomes President Obama’s Focus on Opportunity in State of
the Union
NCLR notes that policies such as
increasing the minimum wage, boosting health and education and
immigration reform will open the door to greater opportunities for all
Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to tonight’s State
of the Union address, in which President Obama spoke about issues such
as growing income inequality in our nation, Janet Murguía, President
and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza), has called on
policymakers to recommit to creating jobs, rewarding work, and ensuring
that our children are prepared to compete and excel in the 21st century
economy.
“Tonight, President Obama laid out his vision for the future of
this country, offering practical solutions to fight poverty and expand
opportunity for more Americans,” Murguía said. “Like all Americans,
Latinos hold fast to the belief that hard work should earn you the
chance to build a better life for your children. We applaud the
president for prioritizing boosting stagnant wages and investing in
youth.”
During tonight’s address, the president announced an Executive
Order to raise the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10.10 per
hour. According to the Economic Policy Institute, this mandate on the
minimum wage will set a floor on wages for the nearly 20% of all
federal contractors earning below poverty-level wages, who are
disproportionately minority and female.
“This is a win-win for workers and business,” Murguía said. “We
hope that the president will continue working with Congress to finish
the job by passing legislation that raises the minimum wage for all
Americans.”
Latinos are expected to double their share of the American labor
force from 15 percent to 30 percent by the year 2050. However,
approximately one in five Latinos earns poverty-level wages.
“The seeds of inequality are too often sown early in life. We are
pleased to see the president place a continued focus on investing in
our future by raising standards for all of our children and investing
in early childhood education,” Murguía said. “To ensure a prosperous
future for all Americans, we must restore investments in programs that
grant all children access to a quality and affordable education from
preschool through college. We must also protect the vital gains made
thanks to the Affordable Care Act that have given millions of Americans
the opportunity to access health coverage for the first time.”
“Lastly, we echo the president’s call for Congress to finally
deliver comprehensive immigration reform,” concluded Murguía. “Instead
of forcing millions of aspiring Americans to continue to live and work
in the shadows, we should pass legislation that establishes a fair and
equitable immigration system, creates millions of jobs, boosts our
economy, and aligns with our values as a nation.”
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy
organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for
Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and
Twitter.
###
National Federation of Independent Business For Immediate Release Contact: Eric Reller
SOTU: President
Snubs Small Business
Proposals
Disproportionately Hurt Small Businesses and Employees
National Federation of Independent
Business (NFIB) Chief Economist William Dunkelberg made the following
statement
in response to the President’s State of the Union address:
“The State of the Union address was a
chance for President Obama to propose initiatives that would benefit
the real
engine of the U.S. economy – small business,” said Dunkelberg.
“Unfortunately,
the President again chose to champion big business, special interests,
and
partisan causes. Small businesses are still climbing out of this
recession, and
any hope for a steady resumption of solid growth depends on improving
the
health of this half of the economy.
“Championing a corporate-only tax reform
scheme (which misses 2/3rds of small businesses), a failed health care
rollout,
and a promise to raise the minimum wage that would escalate
unemployment - the
President seems determined to pick winners and losers. Small business
has been
mentioned as an important aspect of the U.S. economy during every State
of the
Union address during this Presidency – at some point we hope that the
President
stops stacking the deck against the segment he claims to support.”
**NFIB Chief Economist William Dunkelberg is
available for comment – For interviews, please contact Eric Reller at
..**
###
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Statement from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
on the President's State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, DC Jan 28 —"The
President is right to urge congress to fix our broken immigration
system this year, the creation of more jobs, equal pay for women, and
the restoration of the Voting Rights Act. We are also pleased that the
President is using his pen like he said he would to move things
forward: in this instance by signing an executive order to increase the
minimum wage for federal contract workers. However, he must go further
and sign an executive order that bans discrimination against the same
contract workers who are LGBT. The irony is that some LGBT federal
contract workers will get a pay raise but they could still be fired for
who they are and who they love. The longer the President waits the more
damage LGBT people will face; discrimination is a painful reality that
is too often the lived experience of LGBT people. The President has to
act when Congress won't."
Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Action Fund
–30–
To learn
more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, visit and follow us
on Twitter: @TheTaskForce.
National Latina Institute for
Reproductive Health
For Immediate Release
Jan. 28, 2014
Contact: Alejandra Cardenas
Economic security, opportunity not a reality for Latinas without
reproductive care
NEW YORK — Following the State of the
Union address, Jessica González-Rojas, executive
director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
(NLIRH), released the following statement in response to President
Obama’s remarks, which emphasized on the importance of equal
opportunity and economic security:
“The President made a compelling case for the
importance of opportunity and economic security. We couldn’t agree
more. Sadly, we know from talking to Latinas that formidable barriers
to accessing health care, including cost, lack of transportation,
clinic closures, and bans on health coverage for immigrant women
threaten the economic security of Latinas and the well-being of our
families. While the Affordable Care Act helps millions of Latina's
there are still Latina's left behind.
“We hear from Latinas every day who say that their
inability to access high-quality, affordable reproductive care, like
contraception, abortion, STI and HIV screenings and more, makes it
harder for them to care for their families and achieve their
educational and economic goals. Women struggling to make ends meet are
forced to make impossible decisions—like whether a woman with a lump in
her breast pays for a mammogram or puts food on her family’s table. We
also know that policies like the Hyde amendment that deny women
coverage for abortion only contribute to economic insecurity: according
to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of
California San Francisco, women who attempted to obtain abortion
services but were denied are three times as likely
to fall into poverty than those are able to get the care they need. Put
simply, too many federal policies aren’t helping Latinas reach economic
security or opportunities; they’re holding us back.
“We urge the President to make the most of his ‘year
of action’ by leveraging the full power of the executive branch and
working with Congress to expand access to affordable health
care—including reproductive health care—to each and every Latina and
her family, regardless of where she lives, her immigration status, or
the amount of money in her pocket. Ensuring access to quality,
affordable reproductive health care is the first step toward equal
opportunity and economic security for millions of Latinas and our
families.“
###
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
is the only national organization working on behalf of the reproductive
health and justice of the 24 million Latinas, their families and
communities in the United States through public education, community
mobilization and policy advocacy.
RATE Coalition
For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2014
Contact: Colin Dunn
RATE Statement on the State of the Union
WASHINGTON, D.C. – RATE
Coalition Co-Chairs Elaine Kamarck, former White House adviser to
President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, and James P.
Pinkerton, former White House domestic policy adviser to Presidents
Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, made the following statement on
President Obama’s call for tax reform in his 2014 State of the Union
address.
“President Obama’s call for tax reform during tonight’s State of the
Union address not only reinforces the broad, bipartisan support for
reform, it is yet another sign that the time for reform is now.
“Leaders in both parties, including Speaker John Boehner and the
Republican and Democratic chairmen of the House and Senate tax-writing
committees, support tax reform as a way to grow the economy and create
jobs. Now is the time for our elected officials to seize the
opportunity and work together in a bipartisan manner to craft and pass
legislation that will simplify our tax system, make it fairer and put
America’s economy on a sustainable path to growth for decades to come.
The RATE Coalition welcomes the President’s comments tonight and the
expanded debate on this important issue.
“Americans expect their elected officials in Washington to work across
party lines and get something done that benefits the country and our
economy. Revenue-neutral tax reform that lowers the world leading rate
of 35 percent to an internationally competitive level is the perfect
issue, and now is the time to do it.”
The RATE Coalition is encouraged by President Obama’s support of tax
reform. Find previous State of the Union calls for tax reform here.
About RATE Coalition:
RATE is a coalition of 32 companies and organizations advocating for
sensible corporate tax reform. Making the tax code fairer and simpler
will help spur job growth and stimulate the U.S. economy, and make us
more competitive globally. RATE members currently include: AT&T,
Altria Client Services Inc., Association of American Railroads, Babcock
& Wilcox, Boeing, Brown Forman, Capital One, Cox Enterprises, CVS
Caremark, FedEx, Ford, GAP Inc., General Dynamics, Home Depot, Intel,
Kimberly-Clark, Liberty Media, Lockheed Martin, Macy's, National Retail
Federation, Nike, Northrup Grumman, Raytheon, Reynolds American,
Southern Company, Time Warner Cable, T-Mobile, UPS, Verizon, Viacom,
Walt Disney and Walmart. RATE members and affiliated companies
represent over 30 million employees in all 50 states and support
innumerable numbers of suppliers and small businesses. More
information about the coalition is available at www.RATEcoalition.com.
###
Sierra Club
Contact: Maggie Kao
Sierra
Club
Statement
on
State
of
the Union
Washington, D.C. -- Tonight President Obama gave his
2014 State of the Union address.
Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director, issued
the following statement
in response:
“Tonight,
President Obama laid out his vision of opportunity for our nation and
made it clear that our children will hold us accountable for what we do
-- or do not do -- to address climate disruption.
“The
President has taken significant steps forward by committing to hold
dirty power plants accountable for their toxic carbon pollution and to
protect our public lands. We’re also encouraged to hear his plans
to
help repair and modernize America's infrastructure.
“Unfortunately,
the sum total of the President’s commitments fall short of what
American families need to ensure a safe, healthy planet for our
children. We can’t drill or frack our way out of this problem.
There
is far more potential for good job creation in clean energy like solar
and wind, and common sense solutions like energy efficiency.
“Make no mistake -- natural gas is a bridge to nowhere. If we are truly
serious about fighting the climate crisis,
we must look beyond an ‘all of the above’ energy policy and replace
dirty fuels with clean energy. We can’t effectively act on climate and
expand drilling and fracking for oil and gas at the same time.
“To
fight the climate crisis, we must resist the temptation to trade away
American jobs and public interest policies to foreign corporations. We
must walk away from boondoggles like fracked gas. And we must seize on
the opportunity and the obligation that the climate crisis has thrust
upon us.”
###
Solar Energy
Industries Association
President Touts Solar Progress in State of the
Union Speech
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Giving his own “shout out for solar,” President
Obama praised the U.S. solar industry in his annual State of the Union
speech. Afterward, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy
Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement:
“From the rooftop of the White House to the floor of the People’s
House, President Obama continues to show his strong, unwavering support
for solar energy. On behalf of the 143,000 Americans who work in
the
U.S. solar industry – and the tens of millions of people who support it
– the best way to thank the President for his leadership is to go out
and prove him right. Today, we’re well on our way to doing that,
with
solar now the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in America,
pumping tens of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy. But
despite
this milestone, we believe the best is yet to come.
"Fresh off a record-breaking year, America’s solar energy industry
is looking forward to another great year in 2014 – thanks, in part, to
President Obama’s continued leadership and the smart public policies
which are making solar more affordable than ever. With an
estimated
13,000 megawatts (MW) of solar currently installed in the U.S., we’re
generating enough clean, reliable electricity today to power more than
2 million American homes – or every single home in a state the size of
Colorado. Like the President, we see 2014 as a year of action, a
year
of progress and a year in which more and more Americans turn to solar
to save money, help meet their energy needs and improve our
environment.”
###
About SEIA:
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, the Solar Energy
Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S.
solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is
building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the
industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to champion the
use of clean, affordable solar in America by expanding markets,
removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the
public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.
Media Contacts:
Ken Johnson, SEIA Vice President of Communications
Samantha Page, SEIA Press Officer and Communications Manager
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Chamber’s Donohue Comments on
State of the Union
Tuesday,
January 28, 2014 - 1:00pm
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S.
Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the
following statement ahead of President Obama’s State of the Union
Address:
“Tonight we expect the president to discuss a number
of important policies that will help spur growth and improve America’s
global competitiveness. We also expect there to be a strong emphasis on
inequality and opportunity, but the president’s overall plan to address
it is flawed.
“America’s promise has always been equality of
opportunity, not outcome. To ensure every American has the opportunity
to pursue and achieve the American Dream, we need more good-paying jobs
and workers with the skills, education, and incentives to fill them.
Government can’t create those jobs; the private sector can.
“We
can’t afford to double down on the failed policies of tax, spend,
regulate, and mandate. That approach hasn’t worked for the last five
years, and it won’t work now. It’s time for a change in direction that
will lead to stronger growth, more jobs, bigger paychecks, and greater
opportunity for millions of Americans. It’s time to work toward
reducing deficits and regulations, reforming taxes and entitlements,
aggressively expanding domestic energy, and dramatically improving our
education and training programs.”
The Chamber’s 2014 Jobs,
Growth, and Opportunity Agenda
includes expanding trade, producing more domestic energy, improving
infrastructure, modernizing the regulatory process, making essential
changes in entitlements, fixing the flaws in Obamacare, curbing lawsuit
abuse, and advancing American innovation by protecting intellectual
property. The agenda also focuses on revitalizing capital markets,
passing immigration reform, and efforts to improve education and
training, which will expand opportunity, address inequality, and create
jobs.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest
business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million
businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and
local chambers and industry associations.
AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka Previews the President’s State of
the Union Address
Transcript:
Hi I’m Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO.
Like
many Americans I’m looking forward to listening to President Obama’s
State of the Union Address on January 28. As a representative of
working people in this country, I’m really anxious to hear his vision
for how we can rebuild our country and create prosperity for all.
Recently
the President gave a speech on the need to tackle income inequality –
that’s the widening gap between the super wealthy and the rest of
us.
And you know what -- I’m glad he’s started a national conversation
about this very important issue.
But I want to be clear: Income
inequality didn’t just appear out of thin air. It’s the result of
deliberate policies pushed by the 1 percent – corporations and the very
wealthy ---who continue to stack the deck against workers.
Bad policies got us into this mess and good policies will get us out.
I
want to hear the President talk about a serious campaign to raise the
minimum wage, including wages for tipped workers– so that no one who
goes to work every day is living in poverty. And I want to hear him
talk about a long term effort to raise living standards for all workers.
I
hope the President talks about the need to create good jobs by
investing in our country – investing in education, rebuilding our
infrastructure, technology and manufacturing -- and addressing our
nation’s energy challenges by creating green jobs. But we can’t
create
good jobs if our trade policies turn around and ship those jobs
overseas – we have to have trade that works for workers, not just for
global corporations.
Too many Americans who want to work still
can’t find jobs, and that’s why the President should call on Congress
to immediately renew emergency unemployment benefits for the millions
of workers who are struggling.
The President must also recommit
to fixing our broken immigration system by providing a roadmap to
citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans. The President can
take
action right now on this issue -- he should put an end to the harsh
deportations that are separating families and he should do it
immediately.
Last, but certainly not least – we in the labor
movement know the best way for working people to raise their living
standards is for everyone to have a voice on the job to bargain
together for better wages, benefits and conditions. That’s how
incomes
rise not just for union workers but for all workers. And that’s
what
we want—an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy
few.
President
Obama has a lot of challenges ahead of him but he’s not alone. If
he’s
willing to fight for working people, we’ll have his back every step of
the way.
Thanks for listening. You can join the conversation on
Twitter by going to @AFLCIO and tell us what you want to hear from the
President.
Contact: Josh Goldstein
American Petroleum Institute
Gerard to President Obama: Seize the American moment to reduce
income inequality
WASHINGTON, January 28, 2014 – API President and CEO Jack Gerard
laid
out smart energy policies that President Obama can take unilaterally to
achieve his State of the Union goal of relieving income inequality:
“If President Obama has decided to take unilateral action, he can fight
income inequality by seizing this once-in-a-lifetime energy moment by
allowing more oil and natural gas jobs that pay seven times the minimum
wage.
“The American energy renaissance gives us a unique opportunity to
revitalize our economy and become a global energy superpower while
helping Americans get back to work. The president has the opportunity
to seize this moment by approving the Keystone XL pipeline, opening up
new areas for responsible energy development, and pulling back
unnecessary and costly new regulations. These pro-growth energy
policies would create millions of stable, good paying jobs, which is
the American people’s number one priority. If the president is serious
about combating income inequality, we must take full advantage of the
opportunities in energy that are before us.
“Unfortunately, the president called for increased taxes on the oil and
natural gas industry he needs to close the income gap and create jobs.
Punishing energy companies by raising taxes is not sound energy policy
and could lead to less energy, less government revenue, and fewer jobs.
The oil and natural gas industry already contributes $85 million a day
to the federal government—a larger contributor of government revenue
than any other industry in the United States.”
API also released a video – “For a
stronger union, choose energy” – highlighting how the oil and
natural gas industry has helped achieve the president’s previous State
of the Union goals.
API is the only national trade association representing all facets of
the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs
and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 580 members include
large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production,
refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and
supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed
by a growing grassroots movement of more than 20 million Americans.
No Labels
Full page ad from the New York Times,
Jan.
26,
2014:Microsoft
Jan. 27, 2014
Bing.com and FOX News Channel team up to bring
real-time
polling to the State of the Union
Opportunity
for Americans to share their views by “voting” on President Obama’s
address and the Republican response; Bing Pulse received 12.9 million
votes during the 2013 State of the Union, making it the largest live
online poll in history; new features include an annotated graph
allowing users to see what passages are soaring and tanking, and poll
questions about key topics in the speeches.
REDMOND, Wash. —
Jan.27,
2014 —Bing.com
and FOX News Channel
(FNC) are teaming up again on the Bing Pulse online voting tool for the
State of the Union address and Republican response on Tuesday, Jan. 28,
at 9 p.m. EST. The first-of-its-kind technology, which was introduced
during the 2013 State of the Union, enables viewers to track and share
their opinions and reactions in real time via their smartphone, PC or
tablet. For the 2013 State of the Union, the Bing Pulse received 12.9
million votes during the address. Live results were also shown on FNC.
During
the address and the response, people will be able to not only provide
their feedback, but also look at the Bing Pulse online or on FNC to see
what other viewers think of both the speech and the Republican response
in real time as the remarks are being delivered. The Bing Pulse also
provides an intensity score, which highlights the key moments of the
address or when the greatest numbers of viewers vote at the same time.
New this year is an online annotated graphing feature that enables
people with one click to understand exactly what was said during those
polling spikes. Also new this year are poll questions about some of the
key topics in the speeches.
“We
deployed the Bing Pulse for the 2013 State of the Union because we
thought it was the perfect tool to give people an opportunity to react
in real time to the address,” said Mark Penn, executive vice president
of Advertising and Strategy at Microsoft. “Over the course of 59
minutes, we conducted the largest live online poll in history with 12.9
million votes registered. That response showed how much people want to
make their voices heard during significant political moments. This
year, we’re adding more features and are covering the Republican
response as well.”
In
addition to teaming up with FNC for its State of the Union coverage,
the Bing Pulse runs three nights a week on “Special Report with Bret
Baier”(6 p.m. EST).
According
to Nielsen, “Special Report” delivers on average 2.2 million viewers a
night with Bing Pulse drawing over half a million votes per week.
How it works
The
Bing Pulse allows people to share their opinion of the State of the
Union by “voting” every five seconds on their reactions to the content
of the speech. Viewers simply go to Bing.com/politics
from a computer, tablet or mobile device to connect with the poll while
watching the president’s address or Republican response on television
or through a live feed on the Bing.com/politics hub.
Unlike
typical polls, Bing Pulse allows people to self-identify by gender and
political party affiliation to provide additional aggregate data
analysis to the results shown online and on FNC.
As
the speeches progress, viewers have five choices to characterize how
they are feeling about what they are hearing: strongly agree, somewhat
agree, neutral, somewhat disagree and strongly disagree. The live count
of the number of “pulses,” or votes, becomes a line graph of how users
react to the State of the Union, as well as the Republican response
throughout both speeches, and will be visible on the television screen
on FNC. Viewers watching the speech on other networks can have a robust
State of the Union companion experience by participating in the Bing
Pulse and seeing the live poll results online. During the course of the
speeches, the Bing Pulse online poll results will be updated every few
seconds on FNC with data also available at Bing.com/politics. More
in-depth news and analysis will be available at http://www.foxnews.com/sotu.
Comprehensive, nonpartisan
State of the Union experience
The Bing Pulse is part
of a comprehensive, nonpartisan State of the Union experience on Bing.com/politics
and on FNC. In addition to the Bing Pulse, the site provides a single
destination for up-to-the-minute political news, expert information and
real-time conversations on major policy issues. Bing.com/politics
features include these:
A live feed of
President Obama’s State of the Union address and the
Republican response
An annotated graph
allowing users to see what parts of the State of the
Union are soaring and what parts are tanking
Real-time news
results using the Bing news filter that helps people
navigate the news by filtering coverage from left-leaning and
right-leaning sources
A live feed of
social conversations on Twitter so people can stay
informed on what leading political pundits are saying about the speech
About Bing
Bing
is the search engine from Microsoft. It was introduced in 2009 with a
mission to empower people with knowledge — to answer any question and
provide useful tools to help you best accomplish your goals, from the
everyday to the extraordinary. Bing continues on that mission today by
moving beyond the search box to power intelligent experiences across
a range of devices and services from Microsoft and third parties.
About Microsoft
Founded
in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software,
services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
Note to editors: For more
information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the
Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news.
Web
links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of
publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance,
journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or
other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.
Note to reporters covering the State
of the Union:
Bing will provide insights from the Bing Pulse during and following the
State of the Union. To receive this information, follow us on Twitter
at #BingSOTU. Neilsen
33.3 Million Tune in to Watch Pres. Obama’s State of the Union
Address
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014 President Barack Obama delivered his
second
State of the Union address of his second term in office. The address
was carried live from 9:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. on 13 networks and
tape-delayed on Univision. The sum of the average audience for those
networks was 33,299,172 viewers with a combined household rating of
20.7. The networks carrying the address live were CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX,
Azteca, Fox Business, Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera
America, Galavision and Mun2.
In terms of the address’ social nature, 8.8 million people saw at
least one of the 2.1 million tweets sent in the U.S. about the "State
of The Union 2014,” according to Nielsen SocialGuide. Each person in
the Twitter TV Unique Audience saw, on average, 29 tweets about the TV
event. Twitter activity about the airing spiked at 9:47pm, with 32,918
Tweets sent following the president's reference to "equal pay.”
WASHINGTON
— Libertarian Party Executive Director Wes Benedict issued the
following statement today in response to President Barack Obama's State
of the Union address:
