Congressman Salazar Responds to State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON DC – Congressman John T. Salazar issued the following response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address:

“Tonight, President Obama spoke of strengthening the middle class through tax breaks for working people and through job creation for those who need it most. Creating jobs must be our number one priority in Washington over the coming year. 

“The President also made clear that as we continue to rebuild our national economy and maintain national security we must do so in a fiscally responsible way so that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. I have fought for PAYGO laws which guarantee that new legislation brought forward must not add to the national debt. As the President noted, this type of responsible spending is critical as we move forward and as a fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrat I couldn’t agree more.

“Finally, like many of my constituents, I share President Obama’s anger tonight over the outrageous, reprehensible behavior of some in the financial industry. Although I voted against the bank bailout in 2008 that measure passed and taxpayers bailed out those banks when needed our help. Now, banks need to use that money to help the working people of this nation and I join the President in his call tonight for financial reform.

“It is clear to me that the American people want members of both parties to work together on these major problems facing our nation.  Those in the leadership of both parties need to stop their escalating bickering and work together to solve our nation’s problems.”