Below is a comment from Senator Chuck Grassley regarding tonight's State of the Union address by President Obama.

"Americans are looking for leadership.  The 13 million people who are unemployed need to know that leaders in Washington can come together to get people back to work and move the country in the right direction.

"Washington needs to focus on fostering opportunities with an environment where the economy can improve and jobs can be created.  Tax certainty and low taxes are a major factor, and one of the biggest tax increases in history will happen at the end of this year if Congress and the President don't stop it.  America's fiscal problems don't come from a revenue shortage, but from too much spending, and government spending needs to be reduced.  A massive federal debt gets in the way of economic growth.  So does the heavy hand of government regulation, and it must be lifted.  America also needs new export markets for our products and services, and the economy is helped by affordable energy, so domestic production has got to be a priority.  The President's decision last week, to deny the Keystone pipeline project, prevents energy-related infrastructure development that creates jobs, in this case as many as 20,000 jobs.  The decision also stymies an energy partnership with a friendly neighbor, and whether or not the United States approves the Keystone project, the oil will be produced, and if it doesn't come here, China likely will get it.  The result of this decision is just the opposite of what our national priority ought to be and that's opportunity.

"Since 2009, President Obama's theory of economic stimulus and government intervention has failed in terms of job creation, economic growth and fiscal responsibility, so we need a new direction.  At the same time, President Obama seems determined to test and even exceed the powers of his office.  America has a system of checks and balances that's generally worked for more than two centuries.  The President's interest in putting the executive branch above the other branches of government is unconstitutional and counter-productive.  It's something Americans rejected 235 years ago.  Today, finding common ground with the elected representatives of Congress would be more productive than trying to govern by edict from the Oval Office."

 

 

Braley Response to State of the Union Address 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement after attending President Obama's State of the Union address tonight:

"I'm glad the President so strongly emphasized strengthening the middle class tonight.  I was especially encouraged by his focus on economic fairness, creating jobs, and investing in education.

"The American middle class is being squeezed more than ever, yet Wall Street bankers and big corporations are making record profits.  It seems like there are two sets of rules - one for the elite, and one for everyone else.  America has always been about opportunity.  We need to level the playing field and keep the promise that if you work hard, you can get ahead.  An easy first step in strengthening the middle class is to pass a yearlong extension of the payroll tax cut.

"Our schools, colleges, and universities are avenues of opportunity.  We need to strengthen education if we are going to succeed in the global economy.  China and India are churning out well-educated and skilled workers.  We need to meet their challenge."

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Governor Quinn Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address

CHICAGO - January 24, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement regarding President Barack Obama's fourth State of the Union Address.

"We in Illinois applaud President Obama for the vision he laid out in tonight's State of the Union. The President put forth a blueprint for a growing economy that gives all Americans equal access to the success through hard work that has always made this nation great. We agree with the President that we can't wait - we need to keep pushing to restore our economy and the American middle class.

"In Illinois, we are focused on the same issues that the President laid out tonight: creating manufacturing jobs and training our workforce for the 21^st century; making education more accessible; modernizing our roads and bridges; and prioritizing housing for our families.

"And as the President said, an America built to last calls for responsibility from each of us and fairness for all. We commend the President on his vision, and look forward to working together as a nation to restore our economy and create opportunities for all Americans."

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Lt. Governor Simon Statement on State of the Union

CARBONDALE - January 24, 2011. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon pledged to work with President Obama and Illinois schools to send more students into the workforce with college credentials that qualify them for in-demand jobs.

"President Obama's blueprint for our economy is built on a strong, skilled American workforce," Simon said. "A growing number of jobs require employees to hold more than a high school education, but not necessarily a bachelor's degree. Illinois community colleges are poised to help more students earn career certificates and associate degrees that translate to good-paying jobs. I will work with the colleges, state leaders, and President Obama to ensure that we offer clear paths to employment. If our students work hard in school, we want them to find a job here in Illinois that will enable them to raise a family, own a home, and save for retirement. Our focus on college completion will help create an America that's built to last."

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Tea Party Response to State of the Union

Dear Friends,

Tonight Obama did what he has done for the past 3 years: showcased the class warfare rhetoric WE HAVE REJECTED while showing no interest in providing some semblance of leadership.

Dear Conservative,

It has been 72 hours since our dramatic victory in the all-important South Carolina Primary.

We did what the establishment said could not be done and we put our campaign on a path to winning the Republican nomination. We won because people are sick of and tired of the national establishment telling them what they are allowed to think and believe, and you saw that Saturday night.

I believe that we will defeat Barack Obama in the general election, and put America back on track toward strength and prosperity. But we need your help to get there. Will you join us?

Today, our campaign turns to the crucial primary state of Florida. The race is between a clear establishment moderate in Mitt Romney and a clear Reagan conservative with a record going all the way back to the 1970s. It's a stark contrast. Make no mistake, this is a battle between the conservative grassroots and the moderate establishment for the heart and soul of the Republican Party.

Conservatives are ready for somebody who will go to Washington and speak for them, not somebody who speaks on behalf of the establishment. The establishment is right to be worried about a Gingrich nomination because a Gingrich nomination means that we're going to change things; we're going to make them very uncomfortable; and we're going to demand real change in Washington.

Going forward, there is only one important question for conservatives to ask themselves: Who is the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama? I believe that a second term for Barack Obama will be a disaster for this country and I am committed to beating him. I think I've proven I could take him on in a series of debates and undo his billion-dollar campaign. It's very important that we have a candidate who's strong enough, and tough enough to be able to take on President Obama in a series of debates.

There is no longer any doubt that we can win the GOP nomination. The other candidates are good men whom I deeply respect, but it is time for conservatives to come together and unite behind one authentic, Reagan conservative who can win.

As I write this, Barack Obama and the Democrats are raising thousands of dollars per hour, waiting for a Republican nominee to emerge. He's a radical, secular socialist who wants to reinvent America in the image of the faded, decrepit Republics of Western Europe.

If I become the nominee, I will hold President Obama accountable. I will defeat him in the debates and show the American people that there is a better, more conservative direction.

This is not just a Presidential campaign. It's a battle for the future of this country. That's why I will immediately challenge President Obama to a series of three hour Lincoln-Douglas style debates, and make him defend the passage of ObamaCare, 15 trillion dollars in debt, and out-of-control unemployment. I'll even let him use his teleprompter!

But I can't do that without your help.

Florida is only one week away, and the Romney campaign is already going back to their old ways of negative attack ads to try and tear us down. We can't let that happen again. We must raise the necessary resources in the next 48 hours to fund our television campaign for Florida so that I can tell the truth to the American people

Your contribution and support will put us over the top in Florida and our nation one step closer putting a conservative in the White House.

Let's be bold.

For America,

Speaker Newt Gingrich

Contributions to Newt 2012 are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. The maximum an individual may contribute to Newt 2012 is $2,500 for the primary election and an additional $2,500 for the general election. Couples may contribute up to $5,000 for each election; joint contributions require the signature of both spouses. Federal multicandidate PACs may contribute up to $5,000 for each election. By submitting your contribution, you agree that the first $2,500 of a contribution will be designated for the 2012 election, and any additional amount, up to $2,500 will be designated for the 2012 general election. Contributions from corporations, foreign nationals, and federal government contractors are prohibited. Contributions must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed by any other person. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to obtain and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in an election cycle.

Ted Scripps Fellowships in ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM

University of Colorado Boulder

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Braley joining Obama at Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing

 

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will travel from Washington, DC, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with President Barack Obama tomorrow, Wednesday January 25^th, 2012, to attend the President's event at Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing.

Braley will attend the State of the Union address tonight.  Tomorrow morning, Braley will travel from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC, to Eastern Iowa Airport with the President.  Braley will then travel to the event at Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing.

 

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