State of the Union: Reactions

News Article

Lawmakers from West Texas reacted to President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night:

Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican: "Tonight we saw a change in the president's message, and that is a good sign. Now we have to see the follow through. We have to see the change in policies to bring down the debt, rein in spending and stop the over-regulation of business that is stifling job creation in the private sector. When the president passed the 'stimulus' bill, he called it an investment, but it didn't spur job creation in the private sector. It created government jobs that haven't stimulated the economy. I look forward to working in the Senate, with my colleagues in the House, and with the president to create jobs in the private sector and to bring down spending."

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, Republican: "Tonight, the President said we have to get a handle on our national debt. I couldn't agree more, but I want to see not just talk, but action. A freeze on some parts of the federal budget -- as he suggested -- would be a small step in the right direction, but his call for new government spending represents a giant step backwards. The best way to restore fiscal discipline in Washington, I believe, is through a balanced budget amendment to our Constitution, which I intend to introduce with dozens of my colleagues very soon -- and I hope the White House will endorse."

Rep. Mike Conaway, Republican from Midland:"The No. 1 priority for this Congress, as well as for the American people, is cutting spending to stimulate job creation. While I applaud the president's call for a ban on earmarks and a five-year budget freeze on non-security discretionary spending, it is still not enough to hold spending at current rates and get our country back on the road to financial responsibility. The time is now to make good on the fiscal promises that the president made tonight, and I look forward to seeing his plan be put into action."

Rep. Mac Thornberry, Republican from Clarendon: "We must use this opportunity to make significant, lasting changes in government spending, and we must seize the opportunity to put the country on a more fiscally responsible path. As we cut spending, every program should be reviewed for efficiency and effectiveness. However, we must remember that national security is the top role of the federal government and our budget should reflect its priority."

Rep. Randy Neugebauer, Republican from Lubbock: "On Nov. 2, the voters of this country sent the federal government a memo. The memo was very clear: Americans want Washington out of their way, and want tax hikes and rising deficits to end. Unfortunately, many of the statements the president made tonight appear to signal that he still has not read this memo and doesn't understand that larger government means a weaker and less innovative economy."