GOP, Democratic politicians from Ohio respond to Obama’s State of the Union.
President Barack Obama addressed Congress and the American people Tuesday night during his State of the Union speech, throughout which he touched on the importance of economic development, immigration reform, alternative energy and a slew of other foreign affairs and domestic policies.
“The U.S. is better positioned for the 21st century than any other nation,” Obama said. “With our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast toward tomorrow, I know it’s within our reach.”
Obama painted a promising picture of America today, but admitted there are many roadblocks he must confront — including a Republican Party that controls the House of Representatives, where most of Obama’s legislative initiatives tend to lose steam.
“I think tonight was a real missed opportunity for the president to truly talk about working together,” U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, said. “It’s like he was going to be the divider-in-chief. I know there are elections coming up, but we’re all Americans and we need to come together.”
Stivers added that he would have liked for the president to address what he calls a “spending problem” in terms of the nation’s debt, as well as the concern of those who have lost their insurance because of the Affordable Care Act.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, disagreed with Stivers and expressed particular support for minimum wage reform.
“Tonight’s speech provided an important blueprint to grow our economy by growing the middle class,” Brown said in a news release.
At one point in the speech, Obama showed a willingness to exercise executive action to enact certain policies that he said Congress wouldn’t act on.
“Wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.
Though some GOP members found these comments to be counterproductive, some Democrats saw this statement as a sign of strength.
“In a time where Congress has been so divided … people I talk to really want to see legislators work toward solutions,” state Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, said. “I think that he, as other presidents, has had to use executive action when necessary.”
Shortly after the speech, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Washington Republican, delivered the Republican response.
“Tonight the president made more promises that sound good but won’t work,” McMorris said.
Phillips, who has been a longtime supporter of Obama, said she agreed with many of the points the president made in his speech — especially as they pertain to education.
“I was really glad to see him talk about both the importance of both early childhood education as well as taking an interest in capping the student loan payments,” Phillips said.
@lucasdaprile
ld3117101@ohiou.edu
