The President's Speech: All Hat, No Cattle?

Media Contact: Christine Glunz, 202.225.3072

Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) tonight issued the following statement in reaction to the President’s State of the Union address:

“President Bush’s State of the Union address once again raises questions about how out of touch his administration is with mainstream America. This is the fourth State of the Union in which I have listened to President Bush. If his follow through is like the past, then this is once again just empty rhetoric, or as they say in Texas, “All Hat, No Cattle.”

“Two years ago he told us about an economic plan that would create more jobs, but 8.4 million Americans are still out of work and almost 3 million of them lost during the last three years. Only 1,000 jobs were created nationwide during the last month of 2003. President Bush must be honest to the American public and propose real solutions for our nation’s unemployed.

“Last year, we heard the President say that we wouldn’t pass our problems along to other generations. This year we hear he wants to make his tax breaks permanent, even though the deficit is at the highest level ever and the tax breaks failed to create new jobs. With a projected deficit in the trillions, his vow to take generational responsibility was simply not true. The tax cuts, the marriage proposal, the $87 billion for Iraq reconstruction, the space mission to Mars and his immigration proposal are all going to cost this country more than we have to spend. The deficits that this administration has created will be passed down to our children and our grandchildren.

“In May I heard President Bush declare an end to major combat operations in Iraq on the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, but since then over 350 U.S. soldiers have died. Now, over eight months later, we know major combat has not ended. Our troops are spread too thin overseas and the administration is not providing them with adequate equipment.

“Americans do not want to continue down the same road of reckless leadership and failed policies that focus only on the privileged few. During this upcoming session of Congress, Democrats will continue to work hard for our needs here at home: creating jobs for the millions people who have been out of work, keeping the country secure, making health care affordable and accessible and providing a quality education for our children. We call on President Bush to join us.”