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Mich. lawmakers weigh in on State of the Union Address

REP. TIM WALBERG

Washington, D.C. - Rep Walberg released the following statement following the President’s State of the Union Address:

“It’s disappointing the president has yet to produce a budget but then still calls for even more stimulus spending and higher taxes. We need to build a healthy economy to help hardworking taxpayers by making government live within its means and pursuing tax reform to encourage small business job creation and bring jobs back to America.  I hope we can work together, in a thoughtful manner, to build a better future in Michigan.”

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REP. DAVE CAMP

Washington, DC - Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) made the following statement on Tuesday evening in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight the President laid out a vision for America that was formulated on the same failed policies that have left millions of Americans without a job – more taxes and more spending. The President’s call for higher taxes is anything but tax reform.  Tax reform should result in a simpler, fairer tax code for families and more jobs for American workers.  The President’s plan does nothing to change a tax code that is so complex that nearly 90 percent of families are forced to pay someone else to prepare their taxes or buy commercial software just to fill out their tax return.  Similarly, instead of closing loopholes to lower rates and create more jobs, the President closes loopholes simply to pay for more spending in Washington.  More spending and more taxes are not the answer to America's problems.  I'll work with the President to close loopholes, but only if it results in hardworking taxpayers getting a simpler, fairer tax code and an economy with more jobs – that is real tax reform."

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SEN. DEBBIE STABENOW

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Manufacturing Caucus, issued the following statement after President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address

“My number one priority is to stand up for Michigan’s families, and I don’t believe we have a middle class unless we make things and grow things.  The President is right that the best way to grow our economy is from the middle out.  I was very pleased to hear the President focus on helping businesses create jobs, especially in manufacturing.  It is critical that Congress work across the aisle to create opportunities for our businesses and our families and help Michigan continue to lead the economic recovery.

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SEN. CARL LEVIN

WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., made the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union address this evening:

“The president delivered a powerful, effective and unifying speech that was focused in the right place: on the hopes of American families that we can continue the substantial progress we’ve made in rebuilding the economy from the worst recession in generations. He called on us to put the nation’s interest before partisan interest in order to avoid the damaging automatic spending cuts that are scheduled to take effect in just a few weeks. I applaud his call for a bipartisan, balanced approach that avoids the damage those cuts would do to our national security and important priorities here at home such as education and health care. I very much welcomed his support of raising additional revenue to avoid those cuts by closing tax loopholes for the well-off and well-connected, by reducing tax incentives to move jobs overseas and by ending special-interest tax breaks. I’ll continue to work with the administration and with members of both parties to achieve that goal.”

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REP. FRED UPTON

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) issued the following statement Tuesday evening following President Obama’s State of the Union Address:

“Our nation continues to face enormous challenges; time is short and it is critical we work together to address them.  Jobs and the economy must remain our focus as we work to provide relief for middle class families and small businesses here in Michigan and across the country.  By all accounts, they have been hit most directly in our economic downturn.  That is why we desperately need policies that support the creation of good-paying jobs, not endanger them; promote economic competitiveness and innovation, not stifle them. 

“Further, we owe it to our children and grandchildren to get our nation back on track to a balanced budget.  It is time for a renewed era of fiscal responsibility that breaks from the historic deficits of years past.  We addressed the revenue side of the equation in January, now we need to take a sober look at where savings can be made and how government can operate more efficiently. 

“I was heartened by the President’s repeated call to work beyond party lines on the many pressing issues before us.  Meeting these challenges will not be easy, but it is necessary for the future prosperity of our nation.”