Shimkus Reaction to State of the Union Address

Statement

Congressman John Shimkus (R-Illinois-15) released the following statement in reaction to President Obama's State of the Union Address this evening:

"President Obama talked a good game tonight about growing our economy and strengthening the middle class. Unfortunately, the measures he proposed would instead grow government and weaken America's ability to compete in the global economy. From energy to education, the president's policies undermine, rather than enhance, the free enterprise system that has given Americans the opportunity to pursue their dreams for generations.

"Consider his energy policies for example. The president conveniently forgets that it was the private sector, assuming a financial risk to extract previously unreachable resources on private lands, that crowned the United States the world's largest oil and gas producer. Tens of thousands of Americans have found jobs and millions more are seeing relief at the pump, and in their home heating bills this winter, as a direct result of that private sector action.

"But what does President Obama propose? Cap-and-trade rules that would drive up electricity costs -- especially in the Midwest -- and compromise the reliability of our entire electric grid; a veto for privately funded, job-creating energy infrastructure projects like Keystone XL; and seemingly endless taxpayer-backed credits and subsidies for his friends like Solyndra.

"Or consider the President's education proposal. Over 10 million middle class families have worked hard to save over $12 billion in special savings accounts to pay for higher education expenses. But what does President Obama propose? Taxing these previously tax-free savings accounts to pay for "free' community college.

"I'm pro-education and I'm pro-community college, but unlike the president, I recognize that there are folks, both rich and poor, who made the hard choice to plan and save for a college education. It's unfair -- and sends a terrible message to our children about savings and responsibility -- for the government to now take and redistribute what those families worked for years to build.

"It wasn't all bad though. One area in which I can see common ground with President Obama is on the important topic of advancing life-saving innovations in medical and pharmaceutical technology. Through the Energy and Commerce Committee's 21st Century Cures initiative, I've been actively engaged in bipartisan discussions about what Congress can do to accelerate the discovery and approval of new drugs and treatments. I look forward to the administration's engagement on this issue as we continue those discussions and draft legislation."

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