Schakowsky Response to State of the Union Address

SCHAKOWSKY RESPONSE TO STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to President Bush's last State of the Union Address.

"Last night, President Bush delivered an uninspiring and lackluster State of the Union address. His speech failed to adequately address the problems our country currently faces or provide us with a vision for the future. Instead the President recycled old initiatives and portrayed his failures, such as the war in Iraq and No Child Left Behind, as successes.

The best part of the President's speech was that it was his last State of the Union Address. It's hard to imagine that one President could do so much damage to our country in seven years. President Bush inherited a strong economy, a budget surplus, and a mostly peaceful world, but he will likely leave behind a nation strapped in debt, an endless war, and a struggling economy.

Fortunately, the new Democratic-led Congress has taken aggressive steps to reverse the damage done by President Bush's failed policies. In our first year, we have raised the minimum wage, made college more affordable, implemented the 911 report recommendations, passed the largest veterans funding increase in history, and raised fuel economy standards for the first time in 30 years.

While we have made significant progress, we still have plenty of work to do to rebuild America at home and abroad. Despite our differences, the Democratic-led Congress remains ready and willing to work with the President and Congressional Republicans to solve the current problems facing our country....