Members of Maryland’s Congressional delegation had the following reactions to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday night:
Sen. Ben Cardin (D): “I thought the challenge to us to put the country’s interests first was the most powerful part of the speech. You could tell that he was really motivated himself on this issue, that we have to leave a legacy for future generations.”
Addressing the prospect of new jobs in science and technology, Sen. Cardin said, “Maryland is well poised in the high-tech areas, biotech areas, cybersecurity areas, biomedical areas–all those areas are critically important for job growth in our state.”
Rep. Andy Harris (R, 1st District): “Tonight we heard the president outline his plan for the country and unfortunately, we have heard it all before. More taxes, more spending. President Obama claims to want to help hard-working taxpayers, yet he continues to advocate for the failing policies that have hampered job creation and growth in the economy. He made it clear that he wants to raise taxes again, while continuing to spend even more money we do not have.”
Jaime Lennon, Director of Communications for Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D, 2nd District): “The Congressman believes that there is a better politics. Congressman Ruppersberger has a reputation for working across the aisle and believes it’s time for all lawmakers to do the same. There is plenty of common ground to start from. This isn’t the time for rhetoric. It’s time for common sense solutions.”
Rep. John Sarbanes (D, 3rd District): “Tonight the president laid out a number of significant policies and initiatives that will help strengthen our economy, give middle class families the bigger paychecks they deserve, advance educational opportunity, expand workers’ rights, mitigate climate change and enhance our nation’s cybersecurity. I applaud the president’s commitment to these bold and important policy initiatives.”
Rep. Donna Edwards (D, 4th District): “I support President Obama’s calls to
increase the federal minimum wage, provide paid sick leave and affordable childcare, make community college tuition free, improve mortgage rates, and ensure a fairer tax code…Tonight the president outlined a number of policies that expand economic opportunities for all Americans, not just the wealthy few. I look forward to working with him in that effort.”
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D, 5th District): “After enacting policies that have helped our economy recover from the depths of the Great Recession, the president is correct that it is now time to focus on the steps that Congress and the Administration can take together to ensure that all Americans can share in the recovery’s benefits and access the opportunities that have always been America’s promise.”.
Rep. John Delaney (D, 6th District): “I think he [President Obama] laid out an academic case as to why investing in the middle class is good for the country. I’ve always thought that the president should spend more time explaining what’s going on as opposed to just checklists of items, and I think he did that tonight.”
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D, 8th District): “Tonight the president laid out a clear path forward for a middle class economy. We have made important economic progress–now we need to make sure that working families, and not just the very wealthy, reap the rewards of our recovery. We can take concrete steps to increase middle class wages, make sure working families take more of their paycheck home, give our kids the education necessary for higher paying careers and keep good-paying jobs here in the United States.”
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