LoBiondo: "President Cannot Ignore Congress or the Constitution"

Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) tonight issued the following statement after President Obama delivered his State of the Union Address to the nation:

"More than a year ago Americans again elected their representatives in Congress, yet President Obama continues to willfully ignore that reality. Rather than working through the legislative process in a collaborative and cooperative way, he brags of using executive orders to achieve his agenda. At his whim, he has arbitrarily extended hard deadlines, waived clear requirements set by Congress and, in some cases, outright ignored existing laws he personally opposes. Our Founding Fathers did not craft the republic with this vision. The President cannot ignore Congress or the Constitution.

"Missing from tonight's speech was the President's genuine interest in engaging members of Congress of both parties to find mutually-agreeable solutions to some of our most pressing issues. From energy independence to immigration reform, tax reform to extending unemployment benefits, I've been ready and willing to work on these key concerns for South Jersey families. In policy areas such as increasing PTSD funding for our veterans or efforts to protect our nation's security, the President has already found willing partners on Capitol Hill who shared constructive ideas to achieve meaningful results. Why does he now choose to go-it-alone in his final years?

"Furthermore, scant mention was made to what really weighs on the minds of individuals and families across the country -- unacceptably high unemployment, the negative impact of Obamacare, and the burdensome debt passed to our children and grandchildren. As Americans, we cannot have substantive debates about critical issues facing our nation if the President chooses to gloss over them in his annual primetime address. Tonight's speech was not about leadership; it was, unfortunately, about self-preservation in the face of a deeply skeptical nation."

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