After President Obama’s State of the Union address, Arizona representatives immediately began weighing in with criticism and praise.
U.S. Rep. Ron Barber:
“I just spent nine days at home in Southern Arizona and I can tell you that my main goal and the one I heard repeatedly from constituents is to create a strong climate for new jobs so we can rebuild our middle class. The president addressed some of this concern tonight, but there’s much more to do.
“We must immediately reverse the recent cuts in cost-of-living adjustments to military retirees under age 62. We must raise the minimum wage for people who work hard at tough jobs and do not make a livable wage. We must provide mental health and medical services to our returning men and women in uniform.
“And we must fix our broken immigration system.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats alike, to get the job done. The time for action on all these issues is now.”
Senator Jeff Flake:
“President Obama’s pen won’t put Americans back to work. Sound fiscal policy, not more government and gimmicks, will. While I’m pleased the president supports immigration reform and is finally focusing on trade, circumventing Congress won’t foster job creation and won’t result in economic growth.”
U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon:
“The President is our nation’s elected leader and has the privilege and responsibility to set the tone for our nation. Unfortunately, this cannot happen with a President who remains tone-deaf and unwilling to listen to the American people.
“We learned last week that President Obama believes he can lead our nation with only a pen and a phone.
“But Americans don’t care about pens and phones; they care about jobs and paychecks. This requires a President who will work with Congress to pass bills that grow the economy, not the size of the government.
“If the President is serious about working with Congress, he should start by asking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to take up the 40 jobs bills the House has sent to the Senate, finally approve the Keystone Pipeline and remove job-killing regulations through legislation such as the REINS Act.
“I firmly believe that job creation and higher-wages are a product of economic growth, not mandates from Washington.
“Americans have a strong spirit of ingenuity and will. We can and should support policies that foster these values, not hinder them.”
U.S. Rep. David Schweikert:
“For those who watched the President’s speech and the Republican response, the difference could not be more stark.
“The Republican message of optimism and opportunity contrasts with the President’s speech of recycled proposals from his previous years in office.
“If the President is ready to accept responsibility for his policies that have led to stagnant economic growth over his 6 years in office, he needs to follow through this time and address the issue with more than just talk of job creation.
“I am hopeful 2014 can be a productive year, but it will require President Obama to do something he has refused to do until now. And that is, reach out and work with Congress in good faith.”
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva:
“We got a great win on the federal contractor minimum wage. Now let’s see what progress we can make this year on immigration, the environment and the many other important issues we’re dealing with.”
U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar:
“President Obama likes to pass the blame for his stagnant economy onto House Republicans, but we’ve passed dozens of jobs bills, all of which are stuck on Senator Reid’s desk. If the President is serious about his so-called ‘Year of Action’, he can start by telling Senator Reid to pass those bills. On the heels of December’s jobs report, which had the worst Labor Force Participation Rate since April 1978, Americans are looking for real solutions, not more empty promises.
“Furthermore, President Obama is once again promising to dictate his policy goals through executive fiat, circumventing Congress and the Constitution. Given the Administration’s disregard for the rule of law and the Constitution, I can’t say this is surprising. But it is certainly unacceptable. As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it’s my responsibility to hold the federal government accountable and ensure the rule of law is upheld. I take that responsibility seriously and will continue to fulfill it.”