Duncan State of the Union Response

Statement

WASHINGTON -- Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) addresses transportation proposals and condemns the overuse of executive orders in his response Tuesday to the State of the Union Address:

"As Vice Chairman of the House Transportation Committee and former Chairman of the Highways and Transit and Water Resources Subcommittees, I was encouraged President Obama mentioned near the beginning of his speech the need for new transportation and waterways bills. We are simply going to have to wait and see what the cost and details of any proposal are going to be.

"I have worked for years to streamline the way we approach infrastructure projects in this Nation by cutting red tape and reducing federal bureaucracy. The average federal highway project takes more than 15 years from concept to completion in the U.S. because of excessive regulations.

"President Obama also vowed to take action without legislation "wherever and whenever' he could.

"The power of a president to issue executive orders was not meant to be used to replace the Congress or set up some type of presidential dictatorship.

"Many people have said this president has shown less willingness to work with the Congress than almost any president in the past 100 years, and this should be very disappointing to anyone who believes in true bipartisanship."

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