WASHINGTON, DC- Following the State of the Union address, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:
"As President Bush delivers his final State of the Union Address we reflect on a nation in an economic downturn and entering our sixth year in Iraq. What we heard tonight was more of the same.
In 2008, the Congress has more work to do to help families through this bad economy, invest in our workers, insure more children and show real leadership on foreign policy. I hope that President Bush will join us in these efforts rather than continuing to stand in the way.
In his State of the Union address last year, President Bush expressed his desire to work with the Congress in a bipartisan manner. At the time, I said that I was encouraged by his words and that I hoped that he would truly work in a bipartisan way to address issues like health care that weigh heavy on the minds and the pocketbooks of Pennsylvanians.
A year later, President Bush has failed to both work in a bipartisan manner and address the rising cost of health care. The most striking example is when he twice vetoed a bipartisan bill to expand children’s health insurance. This bill to provide health insurance to ten million kids was passed by wide bipartisan margins in both Houses of Congress and has broad support among the American people.
Despite President Bush’s poor track record and lack of leadership, we can’t afford to wait another year for a new president. We must continue working to reverse the Bush policies that have ignored not only the needs of working families but also the economic and foreign policy realities.
We made progress last year, but more has to be done. Congress passed the first minimum wage increase in a decade, a landmark ethics reform bill, a bill to make higher education more affordable, a bill to finally implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, new commitments to our returning veterans and after seven years of delay a bill to help prevent flooding while also addressing water infrastructure needs.
After almost five years in Iraq, we must transition the mission and begin bringing our troops home. A year after the so-called ‘surge’ was announced, it still has not met the stated goal of providing ‘breathing room’ for the political and diplomatic success needed to achieve real progress in Iraq.
When it comes to assessing progress in Iraq, President Bush has been moving the goal posts since ‘Mission Accomplished.’
When he leaves us after eight years, he shouldn’t commit our soldiers and our nation to ten more years and hundreds of billions dollars more spent in Iraq."
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"As President Bush delivers his final State of the Union Address we reflect on a nation in an economic downturn and entering our sixth year in Iraq. What we heard tonight was more of the same.
In 2008, the Congress has more work to do to help families through this bad economy, invest in our workers, insure more children and show real leadership on foreign policy. I hope that President Bush will join us in these efforts rather than continuing to stand in the way.
In his State of the Union address last year, President Bush expressed his desire to work with the Congress in a bipartisan manner. At the time, I said that I was encouraged by his words and that I hoped that he would truly work in a bipartisan way to address issues like health care that weigh heavy on the minds and the pocketbooks of Pennsylvanians.
A year later, President Bush has failed to both work in a bipartisan manner and address the rising cost of health care. The most striking example is when he twice vetoed a bipartisan bill to expand children’s health insurance. This bill to provide health insurance to ten million kids was passed by wide bipartisan margins in both Houses of Congress and has broad support among the American people.
Despite President Bush’s poor track record and lack of leadership, we can’t afford to wait another year for a new president. We must continue working to reverse the Bush policies that have ignored not only the needs of working families but also the economic and foreign policy realities.
We made progress last year, but more has to be done. Congress passed the first minimum wage increase in a decade, a landmark ethics reform bill, a bill to make higher education more affordable, a bill to finally implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, new commitments to our returning veterans and after seven years of delay a bill to help prevent flooding while also addressing water infrastructure needs.
After almost five years in Iraq, we must transition the mission and begin bringing our troops home. A year after the so-called ‘surge’ was announced, it still has not met the stated goal of providing ‘breathing room’ for the political and diplomatic success needed to achieve real progress in Iraq.
When it comes to assessing progress in Iraq, President Bush has been moving the goal posts since ‘Mission Accomplished.’
When he leaves us after eight years, he shouldn’t commit our soldiers and our nation to ten more years and hundreds of billions dollars more spent in Iraq."
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