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Record-Bee: Officials remark on State of the Union

January 14, 2016
News Articles

Record-Bee Staff Reports

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D — St. Helena) released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address to Congress:

“President Obama offered an optimistic and long-term view for the heights our country can reach by working together.

“Together we can build an economy where people have good jobs that allow them to get ahead, succeed, save for retirement and enjoy some long-term financial security. We can make it more affordable for kids to realize their dream of a college education. We can help save lives cut short by gun violence by simply agreeing to commonsense steps like closing loopholes that let criminals, terrorists, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill get their hands on firearms. We can address climate change before its impacts become irreversible. And we can root out terrorism and make our world and our country a safer place.

“So much good can be achieved by working together. We have accomplished a lot during the President’s time in office but there is more we can do. The political divide in Washington should not be so large that we cannot come together to address our most pressing issues. We have it within our power to improve and save lives — we shouldn’t waste it.

“And while we won’t solve all these challenges this year, or during the President’s time in office, this can and should be the year where we start addressing them. There is no excuse to wait.”

Thompson represents California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

Congressman John Garamendi attended President Obama’s final State of the Union address. Afterwards he issued a statement regarding the speech.

“I’ve had the honor of serving in Congress almost as long as President Obama has served in the White House. In his last State of the Union address this evening, President Obama reminded us of the many things we’ve accomplished since he took office while identifying many of the important challenges that remain. He eloquently struck an optimistic and inclusive tone throughout his address while urging a pragmatic path forward built on consensus and reasonable compromise.

“It’s easy to forget that when President Obama entered office, our economy was in a freefall. As a result of the Great Recession and housing crisis that emerged in the final years of the previous Administration, we were losing 500,000 jobs a month. I supported several critical jobs bills and emergency support bills that created opportunity and kept families afloat during hard times. Since then, we’ve seen 14.1 million private sector jobs created as the unemployment rate has dropped in half, from 10 percent to 5 percent. That’s an incredible achievement.

Garamendi is a Democrat from Fairfield.

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, also responded to the address.

“This was President Obama’s last State of the Union Address and I believe he touched the hearts and minds of the American people. He let them know, in a very direct way, that it is only through their involvement that we are going to make progress on the issues facing our country.

“I was glad he reminded everyone how resilient this nation is and what a remarkable record we have seen over the past seven years — 14 million jobs created, more than 17 million Americans getting health coverage, the comeback of the auto industry and the recovery of the housing market.

“The President also focused attention on some big ideas, including a ‘moon shot’ to cure cancer — which I strongly support — as well as a huge focus on voter suppression, which can undermine our democracy.”