Nebraska’s U.S. Senators have mixed reactions to President Obama’s State of the Union address.
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska says she hoped the State of the Union address would offer a “realistic program” to cut spending. During his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Obama emphasized job creation and strengthening the middle class as his top priorities.
Fischer says she was glad to hear the President address across-the-board spending cuts known as the sequester that could happen March first without Congressional action. But she says tax increases should not be part of that discussion.
“The tax issue was addressed before I came to Washington. Republicans have compromised with a tax increase to avert the fiscal cliff, so I believe that tax side, that revenue side, has been taken care of. And now it’s time for Democrats and Republicans to come together and really do our job.”
Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns says Americans deserve better than what they’ve gotten over the past four years.
He says the message Americans have heard from President Obama over the past four years is one of higher taxes and increased spending. Johanns says there’s no clear picture of how more those policies are going to improve the economy.
He says it is also unclear how more jobs will be created, as President Obama called for in his State of the Union address.
“So my hope is that the President is really prepared, now that the election is over, to do more than just pay lip service to bipartisanship and trade negotiations. No doubt about it, if he’s willing to work with everyone across the aisle, we are willing to work with him to find common sense but responsible solutions for the future of our great country.”
Fischer’s and Johanns’ comments were issued Wednesday morning to Nebraska media.