"As usual, the President delivered another fine speech. We have come to expect that every year. He has proven to be an effective communicator.

"But as I listened to the President tonight, I could not help but remember his election-year proclamation in his State of the Union message just two years ago, when he declared 'the era of big government is over.'

"Although the President introduced ideas tonight that would expand the scope of the federal government, it is still my hope that he will not abandon his position of two years ago and will instead continue to work with Congress to make government smaller and to send power and money back to the states.

"Certainly, the President did propose some very ambitious programs to which we in Congress will give a fair hearing. Some of his proposals appear meritorious. For example, tax credits for stay-at-home moms is a concept we can embrace, if implemented responsibly

"We in Congress will continue to advance our agenda which includes relief for taxpayers, overhaul of the tax code, common sense education proposals, a drug-free America and the continued balanced budget and reduction of the national debt which was produced and will continue under this Congressional leadership.

"We have much to do, and I trust the President will work with us to see his two-year old promise of smaller, more efficient government become reality."