Rep. Newhouse Reacts to State of the Union Speech — Dave’s Diary

Tuesday night the president presented his wish list for the country as Congress and the country listened. Newly elected  4^th District Rep. Dan Newhouse was among the first-timers to take in the spectacle.  It is an impressive gathering of court, Cabinet, lawmakers and leaders, the significance of which was not lost on the Republican freshman Newhouse. But in the end, it’s what the president had to say that matters most and there the moment came up a bit short.

Here’s Rep. Dan Newhouse’s response:

”I had hoped that President Obama would reach out to Congress with a serious proposal to rein in federal spending and encourage the creation of middle class jobs. I was disappointed that the president instead proposed the same government-centered tax-and-spend approach of the past. The president’s plan to raise taxes on investments, increase government spending and add more red tape from D.C. is simply the wrong medicine for the economy. Prosperity grows by unleashing economic freedom and empowering individuals to pursue the American Dream, not from massive government entitlements. Instead of higher taxes and adding billions of dollars in new federal programs, we need a balanced budget, fiscal responsibility and to get the government out of the way of job creation. We need a flatter, simpler tax code that encourages investment and keeps more dollars in taxpayers’ pockets. Americans want President Obama to work with Congress, not unilaterally, for a long-term solution to our unsustainable immigration system. I am willing to work with anyone on solutions to help the middle class, expand energy and free trade policies that grow our economy, and get our nation’s finances back on track. As I begin my service in Congress, I am committed to restoring fiscal accountability and ensuring a limited federal government effectively fulfills its responsibilities rather than increasing burdensome regulations.”