Lake County Record-Bee - Congressman Thompson shares reaction to State of the Union Address
January 24, 2012
By Mandy Feder
WASHINGTON, D.C -- While the nation's Capitol was abuzz with reaction to President Obama's State of the Union Address, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St.Helena) said Tuesday night, "There's no place I would rather spend my 61st birthday, if I can't be with my wife, than with the President of the United States, tonight."
Thompson said "the President did a good job of talking about issues that are on the minds of every American."
He said the general platitudes could easily be focused at a local level.
"Tonight the President talked about how we must stand up for our middle class, and those fighting to get into the middle class. Hard working families across our district are looking for a fair shake. They want to know that if they work hard and play by the rules, then they will be able to put food on the table and gas in their car, make their mortgage payment, send their kids to college and save for retirement."
Thompson said it's time to put partisan politics aside and work across the aisle to make that fair shake a reality.
Thompson issued a statement Tuesday that said:
"We need to invest in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, putting people back to work fixing our roads, schools and bridges. We need to invest in new economic engines like renewable energy that will create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and put America in control of our own energy sources.
"We need to invest in education so that our nation continues
to have the world's best entrepreneurs and innovators to compete in the global economy. And we can do this while addressing a long-term solution to our national debt.
"This is the fair shake I am fighting for in Washington. It's what our families, children and grandchildren deserve. And it's what made America great. In the past, folks knew that making this fair shake a reality meant committing to shared responsibility if we shared in the responsibility of building a great nation then we would share in the success of a great nation. We must make that commitment again. That is how we build a sustainable American future."
The Associated Press reported that "Top congressional Republicans took aim at Obama's proposed tax increases, which included making sure millionaire earners pay at least a 30-percent tax rate, and a refusal to change course."
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels told the Associated Press Tuesday in the formal Republican response to the President's State of the Union address:
"President Barack Obama has resorted to extremism' with stifling, anti-growth policies and sought to divide Americans, not unite them."
Thompson said the President outlined the importance of Congress pulling together during the address.
Thompson said "the President did a good job of talking about issues that are on the minds of every American."
He said the general platitudes could easily be focused at a local level.
"Tonight the President talked about how we must stand up for our middle class, and those fighting to get into the middle class. Hard working families across our district are looking for a fair shake. They want to know that if they work hard and play by the rules, then they will be able to put food on the table and gas in their car, make their mortgage payment, send their kids to college and save for retirement."
Thompson said it's time to put partisan politics aside and work across the aisle to make that fair shake a reality.
Thompson issued a statement Tuesday that said:
"We need to invest in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, putting people back to work fixing our roads, schools and bridges. We need to invest in new economic engines like renewable energy that will create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and put America in control of our own energy sources.
"We need to invest in education so that our nation continues
to have the world's best entrepreneurs and innovators to compete in the global economy. And we can do this while addressing a long-term solution to our national debt.
"This is the fair shake I am fighting for in Washington. It's what our families, children and grandchildren deserve. And it's what made America great. In the past, folks knew that making this fair shake a reality meant committing to shared responsibility if we shared in the responsibility of building a great nation then we would share in the success of a great nation. We must make that commitment again. That is how we build a sustainable American future."
The Associated Press reported that "Top congressional Republicans took aim at Obama's proposed tax increases, which included making sure millionaire earners pay at least a 30-percent tax rate, and a refusal to change course."
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels told the Associated Press Tuesday in the formal Republican response to the President's State of the Union address:
"President Barack Obama has resorted to extremism' with stifling, anti-growth policies and sought to divide Americans, not unite them."
Thompson said the President outlined the importance of Congress pulling together during the address.