SENATOR BOND RESPONDS TO STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. Senator Kit Bond made the following comments following President Obama’s State of the Union address to Congress and the nation tonight:

“There is no doubt the President is an artful orator and he said a lot of good things, but I will be far more interested in what his Administration does tomorrow than what he said tonight,” said Bond.  “While he signaled a willingness to move to the middle, and find common ground with Republicans, I want less talk, more action.  I’m from the Show-Me State – so show me!”

Big Government Policies:

“Over the last year the President swerved off course with big government, budget-busting policies.  After tonight’s speech I’m not convinced the President recognizes that Americans want sanity brought back to Washington policies. In the most difficult times it is always the best strategy to empower the American people, rather than empower the government.”

National Security:

“The President’s tough talk on terrorism was good to hear, I only hope he can convince the left wing of his party to go along.  Earlier tonight Speaker Pelosi advocated a dangerous spending freeze on defense spending – I can’t imagine she’s gotten assurances from al Qaeda that they would put a freeze on attacking American families here at home or our troops overseas. Unfortunately, the President's talk on terrorism tonight was little better.  It is disappointing he failed to address the need to pass the Patriot Act to extend critical terror fighting tools, the foolhardy plan to close Gitmo, or stop the policy of treating terrorists like common criminals. ”

Health Care:

“If the President is serious about passing health care reform to help folks struggling with rising premiums and higher health care costs, he needs to scrap his proposed government takeover, end the backroom deals and instead work with Republicans on common sense, bipartisan solutions.”

Federal Spending:

“Last year President Obama promised the American people that he wouldn’t try to spend our way out of the economic crisis, a promise he promptly broke within three weeks by spending a trillion dollars on a failed stimulus bill; and the spending spree didn’t end there.  I hope tonight’s spending freeze announcement is a signal the President is serious about making the difficult decisions necessary to tackle the bulk of spending-spiraling entitlements-that threaten to bankrupt our nation.”

# # #