Reaction to the State of the Union Address

"The problems facing our nation, from energy costs to health care affordability to the War on Terror, are formidable and complex.  President Bush has provided our Nation's citizens his strategy to address these challenges in the coming year.  We face these challenges together as a nation - not as Republican or Democratic or Independent voters, but as Americans first and foremost.  If we are to set a strong and positive course for the future, one in which we leave our children a better country than we ourselves inherited, then the time has long come for Congress and the Administration to put aside partisan differences and work together to address these issues. 

We remain a nation at war.  As we speak, hundreds of thousands of our courageous troops are risking their lives far from home to make America safer, whether in Iraq, Afghanistan or other parts of the globe.  The sacrifices being made by these true American heroes and their families stand in stark contrast to the petty and divisive conduct of our politics here at home.  Energetic and impassioned debate make America stronger but too often political leaders on both sides of the aisle exploit these differences for political gain.

In the coming months, I will continue to push specific proposals to bolster our energy efficiency, to make health care more affordable for small businesses and families, and to make government more open and accountable to our citizens.  I am eager to engage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach solutions on these and other pressing issues facing America.  The people we serve deserve nothing less."