Napolitano Responds to State of the Union

(Washington D.C.)- Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk), responded Tuesday night to President Bush’s State of the Union address, welcoming his much needed return to the discussion of domestic priorities, while raising concerns about his proposals addressing the critical needs of her constituents.

“President Bush addressed some priorities – energy independence, health care reform, and a new direction for the war in Iraq – following the lead of Democrats who have put these issues at the forefront of our agenda for some time now,” responded Napolitano.  “I am hopeful that the President is finally ready to work with Congress on addressing these concerns, as our nation can no longer afford his broken promises of years past.”

The Congresswoman, along with all Americans, was eager to hear the President’s comments on energy policy.

“Tonight President Bush announced his intention to cut U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 percent in ten years.  The President’s rhetoric is right on target, but Americans cannot use rhetoric to fuel their vehicles. 
We can not easily forget that the President last year declared America to be ‘addicted to oil,’ yet only a week later shortchanged the development of alternative fuels in his annual budget.  The Democrats in Congress are ready to work with bipartisanship toward achieving energy independence, and are already putting America on this path by cutting huge subsidies to Big Oil and investing in the alternative technologies needed to protect our national security, our economy, and the future of our planet.”

On health care, the Congresswoman was not enthused by his plan to raise taxes on middle class families in order to fund a proposal that will provide little assistance to the 47 million uninsured Americans.

“The President proposed a tax deduction for purchasing health insurance; however, the tax code is not the place to fix health care.  Those unable to purchase health insurance generally can’t afford to do so, or are locked out of the market by pre-existing conditions.  His proposal threatens to shift more of the cost of health care onto working Americans by raising taxes on millions of workers who have coverage, undermining the employer-based system that covers 160 million Americans.  This latest proposal is another step in the wrong direction.”

On Iraq, the Congresswoman was disappointed at the President’s repeated rhetoric which will not make America more secure and only prolongs when our brave men and women in uniform can return home.
 
“We need to formulate a workable timetable to bring our kids home.  The President proposes a new advisory council, but this time will he listen?  He has already ignored the advice of senior military experts who have asserted that a troop escalation plan promises to add even more stress on our troops, on the equipment they depend on, and most importantly, on their families, whose support makes their service possible.  We must also plan for the resources that our men and women will need when they return home, providing adequate job training, medical coverage, and mental health treatment to help them cope with easing back into society.”

“I sincerely hope that the President will work with us in Congress, instead of against us, to truly address all of America’s needs.”

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