Showing posts with label State of the Union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State of the Union. Show all posts
Friday, January 31, 2014
Hartzler: Obama refuses to let the American Spirit to be unleashed
This was a busy week here in Washington. The President shared his vision for the nation over the next year in his State of the Union address, and the House was hard at work, fighting for you. The House passed the Farm Bill, giving farmers more certainty over the next five years. Additionally, the House passed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, H.R. 7, ending taxpayer-funded abortions once and for all.
This past Tuesday, the President laid out his vision for the next year in his State of the Union Address. His speech reflected a clear difference of perspective. He believes government is the solution to our problems; I believe government is too often the problem. While the President did touch on many issues of concern to many Americans, he refuses to allow the American spirit to be unleashed, preferring instead to call for government-imposed solutions that have failed in the past and will undoubtedly fail in the future.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Billy Long on State of the Union: We will not rubberstamp the Obama agenda
“The president and his administration like to say he has a pen and phone and is ready to act, but as a former constitutional law professor the president should understand there are three equal branches of government.
If his proposals are worthwhile and will help the American people then he should be able to get Congress onboard. My colleagues and I will not rubberstamp an agenda that increases the reach of the government into our lives, increases spending and decreases liberty.
We need a smaller, leaner government to help unleash the pent up economic growth that is vital to creating the jobs we need here at home.”
Hartzler on State of the Union: It's time for president to end class warfare rhetoric
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) has released the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:
“President Obama’s speech reflects a clear difference of perspective. He believes government is the solution to our problems; I believe government is too often the problem. The President stated early in his speech that he believes the American people are united by the belief in opportunity for all – regardless of race or religion or party, young or old, rich or poor – and the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you get ahead. But if he really believes this, why doesn’t he get government out of the way to allow American individualism and ingenuity to flourish? While the President touched on many of the issues of concern to most Americans, he refuses to allow the American spirit to be unleashed, preferring instead to call for government-imposed solutions that have failed in the past and will undoubtedly fail in the future.
It was disappointing, as well, to hear the President use his platform to shore up his base rather than reaching out to all Americans and their needs. The President’s claim that he embraces an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy was empty, as he quickly shifted to stifling power plants with claims of climate change. The President has previously made clear his opposition to coal, a plentiful energy source that is depended on by much of Missouri for its energy needs. An ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy must welcome alternative energy sources like wind and solar, but it cannot restrict exploration of and use of efficient and plentiful sources of energy like coal and oil. An ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy must include moving government out of the way to allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. This will not only create thousands of jobs in our country, but will ensure a ready supply of energy from Canada – a friendly neighbor.
America needs action that involves getting government out of the way of job growth and unleashing the American spirit; not one of taking power away from the people. I remain focused on removing the uncertainty that is stifling job growth, growing the economy, and empowering the American people. It is imperative to get excess government out of the way of our economy, not further entangle it in our private lives. Our Founding Fathers intended that governing be a partnership between the branches of government, and it is my hope that the President will work with Congress to promote these common-sense ideas to help all Americans.
Constituents from Missouri’s Fourth District have shared stories about the negative impact of the Administration’s actions, and House Republicans are working on solutions to get government out of the way:
- A substitute teacher will have her hours cut due to the President’s health care law, lowering her take home pay and making it difficult to provide for her family. I support the American Health Care Reform Act, which replaces Obamacare with market-driven solutions that increase access and lower the cost of health care;
- Community banks are being buried under a flood of regulations due to the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. I introduced the Small Business Credit Availability Act, which would help roll back this harmful legislation by freeing up equity small banks use to provide their customers with loans and working capital.
- Rural electric cooperatives have been negatively impacted by the President’s war on coal, which will shut down Missouri power plants and drive up the electricity bills of citizens across Missouri and the country. I continue to fight against overregulation by the EPA, and ensure America has a true ‘all of the above’ energy policy to secure energy independence and lower energy costs.
I want to assure the citizens of Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District that I, along with my colleagues in the House, am committed to a year of positive action for the people. We will continue to work to get Washington out of the way, helping to lower healthcare costs, cutting government waste, eliminating job-stifling red tape, and helping Americans take home more of their paycheck each month.
It is time for the President to work with Congress to improve the lives of hard-working Americans and end the harmful rhetoric of class warfare.”
“President Obama’s speech reflects a clear difference of perspective. He believes government is the solution to our problems; I believe government is too often the problem. The President stated early in his speech that he believes the American people are united by the belief in opportunity for all – regardless of race or religion or party, young or old, rich or poor – and the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you get ahead. But if he really believes this, why doesn’t he get government out of the way to allow American individualism and ingenuity to flourish? While the President touched on many of the issues of concern to most Americans, he refuses to allow the American spirit to be unleashed, preferring instead to call for government-imposed solutions that have failed in the past and will undoubtedly fail in the future.
It was disappointing, as well, to hear the President use his platform to shore up his base rather than reaching out to all Americans and their needs. The President’s claim that he embraces an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy was empty, as he quickly shifted to stifling power plants with claims of climate change. The President has previously made clear his opposition to coal, a plentiful energy source that is depended on by much of Missouri for its energy needs. An ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy must welcome alternative energy sources like wind and solar, but it cannot restrict exploration of and use of efficient and plentiful sources of energy like coal and oil. An ‘all-of-the-above’ energy policy must include moving government out of the way to allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. This will not only create thousands of jobs in our country, but will ensure a ready supply of energy from Canada – a friendly neighbor.
America needs action that involves getting government out of the way of job growth and unleashing the American spirit; not one of taking power away from the people. I remain focused on removing the uncertainty that is stifling job growth, growing the economy, and empowering the American people. It is imperative to get excess government out of the way of our economy, not further entangle it in our private lives. Our Founding Fathers intended that governing be a partnership between the branches of government, and it is my hope that the President will work with Congress to promote these common-sense ideas to help all Americans.
Constituents from Missouri’s Fourth District have shared stories about the negative impact of the Administration’s actions, and House Republicans are working on solutions to get government out of the way:
- A substitute teacher will have her hours cut due to the President’s health care law, lowering her take home pay and making it difficult to provide for her family. I support the American Health Care Reform Act, which replaces Obamacare with market-driven solutions that increase access and lower the cost of health care;
- Community banks are being buried under a flood of regulations due to the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. I introduced the Small Business Credit Availability Act, which would help roll back this harmful legislation by freeing up equity small banks use to provide their customers with loans and working capital.
- Rural electric cooperatives have been negatively impacted by the President’s war on coal, which will shut down Missouri power plants and drive up the electricity bills of citizens across Missouri and the country. I continue to fight against overregulation by the EPA, and ensure America has a true ‘all of the above’ energy policy to secure energy independence and lower energy costs.
I want to assure the citizens of Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District that I, along with my colleagues in the House, am committed to a year of positive action for the people. We will continue to work to get Washington out of the way, helping to lower healthcare costs, cutting government waste, eliminating job-stifling red tape, and helping Americans take home more of their paycheck each month.
It is time for the President to work with Congress to improve the lives of hard-working Americans and end the harmful rhetoric of class warfare.”
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Transcript: Roy Blunt delivers weekly Republican message
“Hi, I’m Senator Roy Blunt.
“In a few days, President Obama will deliver his sixth State of the Union address. According to recent reports, the President plans to use this speech as a kick off for his so-called ‘year of action.’ He intends to focus on income inequality leading up to the midterm elections this year.
“Well, the President’s right about at least one thing. Americans are hurting. Too many of the poorest Americans continue to suffer from stalled job creation, skyrocketing federal debt, burdensome regulations, and broken promises on health care reform.
“What President Obama fails to acknowledge is that Americans are hurting as a result of his own policies.
“More than 10 million people are still unemployed nationwide. Another 2.4 million people want to work, but have stopped looking for a job. And almost 8 million people have already been forced to take part-time jobs because they can’t find the full-time jobs they’d like to have.
“This administration’s agenda to create more government, more spending, more taxes, and more debt has created an inequality crisis of opportunity in our country. Those policies have been disproportionately hurtful to the poorest among us for the past five years.
“When he delivers his State of the Union address this week, the President has a lot of explaining to do.
“If all he has to offer is more of the same, or if he refuses to acknowledge that his own policies have failed to work – the President is simply doing what many failed leaders have done before him: trying to set one group of Americans against another group of Americans.
“We don’t need more class warfare, and we don’t need more interference from Washington. No government program can replace what a good job means for the future of a family.
“Republicans are ready to turn these policies around and launch a ‘year of action’ – starting with fixing our broken health care system.
“Every day, I hear from Missourians who are dealing with increased costs, lost coverage, finding a new doctor, part-time jobs thanks to the President's health care law.
“The administration has decided which parts of the law to follow and which parts to delay. The President himself was forced to take back his promise that people could keep their plan if they liked it.
“This isn’t the result of some website glitch. It’s a law that’s fundamentally flawed. And it’s hurting the very families who need affordable coverage and good-paying, full-time jobs the most.
“Let’s work together to replace a plan that won’t work with common-sense solutions. Solutions like buying insurance across state lines and fair tax treatment for every health care dollar.
“We can also help jump-start job creation for American workers by creating more economic certainty.
“No one wants to create a job or hire more people when they have needless uncertainties about what the future holds. That’s why we need to eliminate confusing and inefficient government regulations.
“I’ve joined Senator Angus King from Maine to introduce a bipartisan bill that does just that by streamlining, consolidating, and repealing costly and needless government regulations.
“We can also create economic opportunities for American workers by supporting increased domestic energy production. More American energy means more American jobs. The President’s own State Department acknowledged that the Keystone XL Pipeline – as just one example – would create tens of thousands of jobs at no cost to taxpayers.
“Now, this project’s been stalled for more than five years. It’s time for President Obama to approve truly shovel-ready projects like Keystone to encourage private sector job creation.
“More American energy means more American jobs; and not just the jobs to produce the energy, but also when you provide predictable utility bills and a dependable delivery system, you encourage more American manufacturing and more American technology jobs as well.
“Republicans in Congress are ready for a ‘year of action.’ Ready to enact a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.
“The House has already passed a number of bills aimed at jump-starting the economy – bills that are stalled in the Senate that’s controlled by Democrats and Majority Leader Harry Reid.
“The President says he has a pen to sign executive orders and a phone to rally support. The Congress should insist that he find the Constitution and follow it.
“President Obama can join us to grow the nation’s economy and the nation’s jobs. Or he can continue pushing for more regulations, more taxes, higher utility bills, and health care turmoil – bad policies that hurt poor Americans the most.
“Mr. President, let’s use the ‘year of action’ to have a little less talk, and a lot more action.”
“In a few days, President Obama will deliver his sixth State of the Union address. According to recent reports, the President plans to use this speech as a kick off for his so-called ‘year of action.’ He intends to focus on income inequality leading up to the midterm elections this year.
“Well, the President’s right about at least one thing. Americans are hurting. Too many of the poorest Americans continue to suffer from stalled job creation, skyrocketing federal debt, burdensome regulations, and broken promises on health care reform.
“What President Obama fails to acknowledge is that Americans are hurting as a result of his own policies.
“More than 10 million people are still unemployed nationwide. Another 2.4 million people want to work, but have stopped looking for a job. And almost 8 million people have already been forced to take part-time jobs because they can’t find the full-time jobs they’d like to have.
“This administration’s agenda to create more government, more spending, more taxes, and more debt has created an inequality crisis of opportunity in our country. Those policies have been disproportionately hurtful to the poorest among us for the past five years.
“When he delivers his State of the Union address this week, the President has a lot of explaining to do.
“If all he has to offer is more of the same, or if he refuses to acknowledge that his own policies have failed to work – the President is simply doing what many failed leaders have done before him: trying to set one group of Americans against another group of Americans.
“We don’t need more class warfare, and we don’t need more interference from Washington. No government program can replace what a good job means for the future of a family.
“Republicans are ready to turn these policies around and launch a ‘year of action’ – starting with fixing our broken health care system.
“Every day, I hear from Missourians who are dealing with increased costs, lost coverage, finding a new doctor, part-time jobs thanks to the President's health care law.
“The administration has decided which parts of the law to follow and which parts to delay. The President himself was forced to take back his promise that people could keep their plan if they liked it.
“This isn’t the result of some website glitch. It’s a law that’s fundamentally flawed. And it’s hurting the very families who need affordable coverage and good-paying, full-time jobs the most.
“Let’s work together to replace a plan that won’t work with common-sense solutions. Solutions like buying insurance across state lines and fair tax treatment for every health care dollar.
“We can also help jump-start job creation for American workers by creating more economic certainty.
“No one wants to create a job or hire more people when they have needless uncertainties about what the future holds. That’s why we need to eliminate confusing and inefficient government regulations.
“I’ve joined Senator Angus King from Maine to introduce a bipartisan bill that does just that by streamlining, consolidating, and repealing costly and needless government regulations.
“We can also create economic opportunities for American workers by supporting increased domestic energy production. More American energy means more American jobs. The President’s own State Department acknowledged that the Keystone XL Pipeline – as just one example – would create tens of thousands of jobs at no cost to taxpayers.
“Now, this project’s been stalled for more than five years. It’s time for President Obama to approve truly shovel-ready projects like Keystone to encourage private sector job creation.
“More American energy means more American jobs; and not just the jobs to produce the energy, but also when you provide predictable utility bills and a dependable delivery system, you encourage more American manufacturing and more American technology jobs as well.
“Republicans in Congress are ready for a ‘year of action.’ Ready to enact a pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.
“The House has already passed a number of bills aimed at jump-starting the economy – bills that are stalled in the Senate that’s controlled by Democrats and Majority Leader Harry Reid.
“The President says he has a pen to sign executive orders and a phone to rally support. The Congress should insist that he find the Constitution and follow it.
“President Obama can join us to grow the nation’s economy and the nation’s jobs. Or he can continue pushing for more regulations, more taxes, higher utility bills, and health care turmoil – bad policies that hurt poor Americans the most.
“Mr. President, let’s use the ‘year of action’ to have a little less talk, and a lot more action.”
Saturday, December 28, 2013
2013 in Review: Message to President Obama: My students deserve better
(From Feb. 13, 2013)
It certainly was depressing last night to discover that the only reason I am standing in front of a classroom of eighth grade students day after day, year after year, is so at some point they can be delivered job ready to some employer.
Whatever happened to the loftier goals of teaching young people the thinking skills needed to succeed in life, the ability to function not only as members of a faceless workforce, but also as key components in directing the civic and political discourse of this country?
In one short paragraph during last night's State of the Union Message, President Barack Obama spelled out today's definition of high school education.
Whatever happened to the loftier goals of teaching young people the thinking skills needed to succeed in life, the ability to function not only as members of a faceless workforce, but also as key components in directing the civic and political discourse of this country?
In one short paragraph during last night's State of the Union Message, President Barack Obama spelled out today's definition of high school education.
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