KSFR Local
(2007-01-24)
SANTA FE
(KSFR) -
-- New Mexico politicos react to the President's State of the Union address in written statements to KSFR.Republican Sen. Pete Domenici
Full statement --
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Tuesday evening assessed President Bush's 2007 State of the Union address and welcomed the challenge to reduce U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 percent in the next 10 years.
Domenici, ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, took particular interest in the President's policy proposals to build on the success of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, particularly proposals to increase the use of alternative energy sources.
President Bush obviously had to deliver this speech under difficult circumstances. I want to learn more about some of the proposals he rolled out tonight, including his plans for the military and health care.
I appreciate the President's leadership in seeking to reduce our use of gasoline over the next decade.
I agree with the President's challenge to sharply expand the ethanol standard we included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. He has raised the bar on our commitment to renewable fuels and given us a goal worthy of our best efforts. He has proposed improving the CAFE standards and I'm optimistic that increased fuel efficiency coupled with expanded alternative fuel production can help us reduce gasoline consumption.
However, in other areas, I am very disappointed. I had hoped the President would give greater attention to the tremendous promise nuclear power holds for us. Nuclear power is a carbon-free energy source and expanding it use is the single most significant thing we can do to confront climate change.
I have been troubled by the Administration's tepid commitment to loan guarantee programs that will provide the support needed to deploy biomass, solar, clean coal, and nuclear energy. All of these energy sources can help reduce our dependence on foreign energy. It is more important than ever to continue aggressively pursuing the nuclear and clean energy options before us to make us more energy independent and help the environment.
Overall, the President has given the Congress a lot to work with and I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues to do what's right for the nation.
Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman
Full text of emailed statement --
I'm disappointed that I didn't hear anything new on Iraq. I'm very concerned about the president's plans to escalate the number of troops there and doubt very much that such a move will achieve the results all of us desire.
I was very encouraged that the president has set the goal of reducing our country's gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent in the next 10 years. That is an initiative all Americans can get behind.
But I am very disappointed that the president did not say much about addressing global warming in a comprehensive way. There is a great desire across the country -- including from leading American companies -- for presidential leadership on this important issue. By essentially ducking the issue of taking a mandatory, economy-wide approach to the problem, the president has missed a real opportunity.
With regard to health care, I'm pleased that the president is focusing attention on the need to extend coverage to uninsured Americans. But I'm concerned that the president's proposal would make health care more expensive for millions of middle class Americans, especially those with chronic diseases. I am also concerned that this proposal may undermine incentives for employers to provide robust health insurance coverage for their employees. If we want to make health care more affordable, and extend coverage to the nearly 50 million people who are currently uninsured, the president's proposal is not the most effective and efficient way of doing so.
Democratic Congressman Tom Udall
Full statement --
"This evening President Bush delivered his seventh State of the Union
Address to Congress. In every previous speech, he has promised to address
the energy needs of our nation, last year going so far as to refer to our
'addiction to oil.' Unfortunately, he and the previous Congress did little
to mitigate the looming energy crisis. Americans need more than lip service;
we need a new direction in our approach to energy as we know it.
"Our nation needs bold, forward-thinking ideas and advanced initiatives that
will help our nation achieve greater stability and energy independence. We
need a comprehensive approach that balances traditional energy sources with
measures to encourage energy efficiency, increases renewable energy
production, and expands research for alternative energy programs. While I
commend the President for acknowledging the seriousness of global warming, I
will continue to urge both he and my colleagues in Congress to acknowledge
that this is one of the most pressing issues facing our nation, and it
demands immediate action. We cannot wait.
"The new Congress already has taken several bipartisan steps to move America
in a new direction on the issues Americans care about most. I hope the
President will work with us to increase the minimum wage, to make our
country safer from terrorism, and to make health care and education more
affordable and accessible for more Americans. Only time will tell if the
President will work with us in a bipartisan manner or stay the course.
"However, the issue weighing most heavily on the hearts and minds of the
American people is where we can least afford to stay the course: the war in
Iraq. In last year's State of the Union Address, President Bush promised
troop reductions and progress in Iraq. This year, the President has called
for an escalation of the war effort. I do not support this approach, and
renew my call for an immediate redeployment of our troops from Iraq. The
American people -- and our troops -- demand a new direction in Iraq, not new
rhetoric."
Republican Congressman Steve Pearce
Full statement --
"I applaud the President for reaching out to the new Democratic majority in Congress," Rep. Pearce said. "I fervently hope they will reach back - and I will do everything in my power to serve as a bridge to the promise that goal holds for America.
"It's clear that the President intends to forge forward with a bold agenda to win the War on Terror and build upon our strong economy. I'm particularly encouraged by his proposals to expand access to health care and attack wasteful spending.
"I remain excited about the historic opportunities that lie ahead."
Republican Congresswoman Heather Wilson
No statement
Gov. Bill Richardson
Full statement --
Governor Bill Richardson tonight called on President Bush to take meaningful action to help middle-class Americans and attack the serious problems facing the country. Governor Richardson, who on Monday filed the paperwork creating a Presidential campaign exploratory committee, was responding to the President's State of the Union Address and specifically pointed to three critical areas of concern mentioned in the speech- energy efficiency and independence, healthcare, and climate change.
"Welcome to the party, Mr. President, the rest of the country and the world have been talking and doing something about these issues for years," said Governor Richardson. "In addition to being years behind, what the President is proposing doesn't go far enough and isn't realistic."
On energy, Governor Richardson pointed out that the President's proposal on renewable fuels is not broad enough. "Ethanol is a critical part of the solution, but not the only part. Our approach must be comprehensive, exploring all opportunities with renewables, including solar, wind, biomass, fuel cells, and distributive generation, to name a few," said the Governor. "In New Mexico we're requiring 10% of all energy produced must come from renewable sources, and we're moving toward 20%. We're providing tax credits for companies developing renewable energy and we've taken action to reduce and limit carbon dioxide emissions. It's time for serious action, not lip service."
Governor Richardson agreed that the nation must dramatically improve vehicle fuel efficiency but noted the President's plan does not provide enough specifics. It also leaves too many loopholes to achieve the kind of improvements necessary to wean the country off foreign oil and reduce vehicle emissions.
"Ultimately we need a 'man-on-the moon' effort focused on energy independence," added the Governor. "Anything less will not create the change necessary to make a lasting difference."
Governor Richardson applauded the President for addressing the healthcare crisis facing the country but believes the proposals don't go far enough to help the tens of millions of Americans without health insurance.
"The burden of having so many patients unable to pay is crushing the healthcare system, and all of us are paying the price," said the Governor. "In New Mexico and in other states we are finding ways to provide our citizens access to affordable healthcare. We need leadership and funding from the federal government to make sure our working families, and especially our children get the care they deserve."
Another urgent area of concern where states are taking action in the absence of federal leadership or support is climate change.
"It is the gravest environmental threat the world faces. The administration has done little to reverse the effects or causes of global warming and time is running out. We must engage with the rest of the world in this effort, and we must implement a meaningful strategy that will make a difference. States like New Mexico and California, not the federal government, are leading the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the innovation in the states must take place on a national scale."
And finally, Governor Richardson reiterated his opposition to the President's Iraq strategy and believes the United States can and must get our troops out of Iraq by the end of 2007.
"Our presence in Iraq is not helping anymore and we must begin to turn the security of the country over to the Iraqi forces and get our forces out," said Governor Richardson. "Our preoccupation with Iraq has caused a resurgence of terrorism in Afghanistan and more violence throughout the region. We must redeploy our troops into areas that will do the most good, and make a real impact in the war on terror."
"Americans expect the President and the government to get things done, to solve the problems that create positive change and improve their quality of life, but that hasn't happened with this administration" said Governor Richardson. "The President has lost his credibility. People here and across the world are looking to the United States for leadership and action, not more promises." © Copyright 2013, KSFR
