Rep. Paul Ryan’s office has
released the following excerpts of his response to President
Obama’s State of the Union Address:
REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS: “President Obama just
addressed a Congressional chamber filled with many new faces.
One face we did not see tonight was that of our friend and
colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. We
all miss Gabby and her cheerful spirit; and we are praying for her
return to the House Chamber.”
**********
SPENDING: “In one of our first acts in the new
majority, House Republicans voted to cut Congress’s own
budget. And just today, the House voted to restore the
spending discipline that Washington sorely needs. The reason
is simple. A few years ago, reducing spending was
important. Today, it’s imperative. Here’s why. We
face a crushing burden of debt. The debt will soon eclipse
our entire economy, and grow to catastrophic levels in the years
ahead. On this current path, when my three children – who are
now 6, 7, and 8 years old – are raising their own children, the
federal government will double in size, and so will the taxes they
pay. No economy can sustain such high levels of debt and
taxation. The next generation will inherit a stagnant economy
and a diminished country. Frankly, it’s one of my greatest
concerns as a parent – and I know many of you feel the same
way.”
**********
BUDGET: “Americans are skeptical of both
political parties, and that skepticism is justified – especially
when it comes to spending. So hold all of us
accountable. In this very room, the House will produce,
debate, and advance a budget. Last year – in an unprecedented
failure – Congress chose not to pass, or even propose a
budget. The spending spree continued unchecked. We owe
you a better choice and a different vision. Our forthcoming
budget is our obligation to you – to show you how we intend to do
things differently, how we will cut spending to get the debt down,
help create jobs and prosperity, and reform government
programs.”
**********
FISCAL CHALLENGE AHEAD: “Our nation is
approaching a tipping point. We are at a moment, where if
government’s growth is left unchecked and unchallenged, America’s
best century will be considered our past century. This is a future
in which we will transform our social safety net into a hammock,
which lulls able-bodied people into lives of complacency and
dependency. Depending on bureaucracy to foster innovation,
competitiveness, and wise consumer choices has never worked –
and it won’t work now. We need to chart a new course.”
**********
“STIMULUS”: “The facts are clear: Since taking
office, President Obama has signed into law spending increases of
nearly 25% for domestic government agencies – an 84% increase when
you include the failed stimulus. All of this new government
spending was sold as ‘investment.’ Yet after two years, the
unemployment rate remains above 9% and government has added over $3
trillion to our debt.”
**********
HEALTH CARE: “What we already know about the
President’s health care law is this: Costs are going up, premiums
are rising, and millions of people will lose the coverage they
currently have. Job creation is being stifled by all of its
taxes, penalties, mandates and fees. Businesses and unions
from around the country are asking the Obama Administration for
waivers from the mandates. Washington should not be in the
business of picking winners and losers. The President
mentioned the need for regulatory reform to ease the burden on
American businesses. We agree – and we think his health care law
would be a great place to start. Last week, House Republicans voted
for a full repeal of this law, as we pledged to do, and we will
work to replace it with fiscally responsible, patient-centered
reforms that actually reduce costs and expand coverage.”
**********
DEBT LIMIT: “Whether sold as ‘stimulus’ or
repackaged as ‘investment,’ their actions show they want a federal
government that controls too much; taxes too much; and spends too
much in order to do too much. And during the last two years,
that is exactly what we have gotten – along with record deficits
and debt – to the point where the President is now urging Congress
to increase the debt limit. We believe the days of business
as usual must come to an end. We hold to a couple of simple
convictions: Endless borrowing is not a strategy; spending cuts
have to come first.”
**********
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: “We believe government’s
role is both vital and limited – to defend the nation from attack
and provide for the common defense; to secure our borders; to
protect innocent life; to uphold our laws and Constitutional
rights; to ensure domestic tranquility and equal opportunity; and
to help provide a safety net for those who cannot provide for
themselves. We believe that the government has an important
role to create the conditions that promote entrepreneurship, upward
mobility, and individual responsibility. We believe, as our
founders did, that ‘the pursuit of happiness’ depends upon
individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited
government. Limited government also means effective
government. When government takes on too many tasks, it
usually doesn’t do any of them very well. It’s no coincidence
that trust in government is at an all-time low now that the size of
government is at an all-time high.”
**********
LIMITED GOVERNMENT: “We need to reclaim our
American system of limited government, low taxes, reasonable
regulations, and sound money, which has blessed us with
unprecedented prosperity. And it has done more to help the
poor than any other economic system ever designed. That’s the
real secret to job creation – not borrowing and spending more money
in Washington. Limited government and free enterprise have
helped make America the greatest nation on earth.
#####
