California Conservative

Here’s Rep. Patrick McHenry’s response:

I am encouraged by what I heard tonight from the President. He rightly criticized “short-term gains” at the expense of “long-term prosperity.” This was my primary concern with the stimulus bill produced by Congressional Democrats, too much expensive pork and not enough real stimulus.

I stand ready to work with President Obama to “make the hard choices to bring down the debt,” as he put it. The President told inspiring stories of ordinary Americans who are making hard choices. We should follow their lead together, and if we do, we can win fiscal responsibility for taxpayers and build a stronger economy.

The President can start by vetoing the Democrat majority’s large increase in discretionary government spending, the biggest since the Carter Administration. It didn’t help matters then, so why should we expect any different now?

The way to build “a new foundation of lasting prosperity” is not to continue spending lavishly on things that do not help Americans weather the storm or stimulate economic growth. Taxpayers simply cannot afford it. A $2 trillion debt is not a means to lasting economic prosperity.”

Here’s Rep. Kay Granger’s reaction to President Obama’s speech:

I deeply appreciate the President’s address to Congress this evening. There is no mistaking the serious challenges facing our country, both on the domestic front and internationally as we continue to tackle a troubled economy and a continual threat of terrorism.

All along, I, and my House Republican colleagues, have expressed our desire to work with the President. Reducing the deficit and controlling spending are areas we are firmly committed to working on with the President. However, we cannot ignore the impact that raising taxes and significant cuts to our Armed Forces will have on both our economy and national security. (more…)