Olson Statement On State Of The Union Address

Statement

Rep. Pete Olson tonight issued the following statement in response to President Obama's first State of the Union address:

"I share the President's opinion of the amazing spirit of the American people. As our nation has struggled through this recession, people have reinvented themselves and shifted their priorities to work through our economic challenges. American families have downsized their spending and expectations in an effort to push forward until we turn the corner.

"US public debt stood at $7.5 trillion at the end of 2009 and is projected to triple to $22.1 trillion by 2020. The federal debt is already over $100,000 per household. Our fiscal house is not in order. The President's call for a freeze on any spending is in my view a small step in the right direction, but sadly, does little to address the Democrats massive spending problem.

"We need to put America back to work by lowering tax rates and allowing businesses and the free market to determine where investments are needed to grow jobs. Government cannot and should not be in the business of cherry picking which industries are worthy of government tax dollars.

"Job creation is not the result of government intervention, but rather, good old-fashioned American entrepreneurship. If government gets out of the way by dropping heavy handed proposals like cap-and-trade and a massive and costly mandate on health care, we can turn this economy around.

"I urge the President to work with Republicans on meaningful job creation and look forward to working with my colleagues to provide real solutions that do not leave our children and grandchildren facing a legacy of debt."

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