Louisiana's Congressional Delegation Members Discuss Bush Speech

Various members of the Louisiana delegation had much to say about President Bush’s State of the Union Speech. Here are those available comments:

US Senator David Vitter

“I was glad to hear the president mention Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, especially since he was criticized for not doing so in previous years. I was also pleased to hear his announcement that the North American Summit will be held in New Orleans this year and this is an important, positive step for the region’s continued recovery.

“I was also impressed by the president’s push for an active agenda this last year of his term. The conventional wisdom is that not much gets done in Washington – and especially in Congress – during an election year. I want work in a bipartisan way to help prove that wrong and plan to push for priorities for Louisiana – specifically in the areas of economic stability and health care.

“I agree with the president that we must make the tax cuts permanent to create jobs and grow our economy. I also believe that it is very important that we continue to pursue real reforms in health care to enable patients to seek the best care at the most affordable price.

“Lastly, I could not agree more with the president that the U.S. Senate must move forward and confirm the backlog of good, qualified judges that continue to be slowed by partisanship. Louisiana’s own David Dugas has been blocked from receiving a fair, up-or-down vote on his nomination as his seat stays vacant back in our state. I plan to help move good judges, like David Dugas, through the confirmation process so that they at least receive the confirmation vote that they deserve,” said Vitter.

US Senator Mary Landrieu

“We owe no less to the American people than to ensure 2008 brings more economic security to their families. We must ensure that 2008 finds a safer and more stable Iraq. We must fight so that when our troops return home from protecting us abroad, they are cared for by the government that called them to duty. Hope can be found in the President’s address tonight, but we must fight together as Louisianians and as Americans to continue to move America forward.

“The President’s announcement that next year’s annual hemispheric meeting involving the leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico will be held in New Orleans is significant for our state. This summit will provide a boon for our local economy and demonstrate to the world that New Orleans is ready and open for business.

“But tonight is a night for setting priorities, and several important ones were left out.

“I will continue to fight for a commitment from the President to become a stronger partner in our recovery this year by cutting through the red tape that has slowed our progress. We need to ensure that Road Home Grants are not taxed, and I will fight to include a fix in the economic stimulus package. The President tonight warned against ‘loading up’ the stimulus package, but preventing the Federal Government from taxing our rebuilding is precisely the stimulus the Gulf Coast requires.

“We need to move past partisan division and quickly pass the Farm Bill to give our 200,000 Louisiana farmers assurance that we will reauthorize, improve, and reform critical farm programs through 2012.

“We need to stop delay and start turning dirt for 100-year hurricane protection for the New Orleans region, which requires $7.3 billion the President has already identified. We need to include these funds in the upcoming supplemental and must make sure the cost-share is not too onerous on Louisiana.

“I hope that 2008 can be a year that we can invest in our school system to protect our children’s future. I agree with the President that we need to reauthorize and fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act, which I was proud to help craft as part of a bipartisan coalition six years ago. But we do not need the approach the President called for tonight. Rather, we must provide children with quality choices in a quality public school system. We must strengthen the public school system by supporting innovation and improving neighborhood schools.

“The President also emphasized the importance of keeping our children safe and healthy, but he continues to veto essential health insurance programs for them. I will continue the fight to provide health insurance for the 4 million otherwise uninsured low-income children.

“The President expressed tonight a common hope of finding bipartisan paths forward. I agree. We campaign as Democrats and Republicans, but we serve as Americans. We must fight together to provide our working families with the economic security and prosperity they deserve.”

Rep. Charles Melancon

"Tonight, I was pleased to hear the President restated his support for the bipartisan economic stimulus package developed in the House of Representatives. America's economy is slowing, and working families are struggling to make ends meet. This bill, which the House will be voting on later this week, will offer lower and middle class families some relief, while also helping small businesses expand and create new jobs. The stimulus package represents a compromise agreement between House Democrats, House Republicans, and the President for the good of our country, and I hope to see more cooperation like this in the future."

"I am also pleased the President recognized tonight what we in south Louisiana have long known: the Gulf Coast is on the rebound and, despite many setbacks and obstacles, is rebuilding stronger than ever before. He is right in observing that south Louisianians are a strong and resilient people, and we know our brightest days are yet to come."

Rep. William “Bill” Jefferson

“I am pleased that the President mentioned the recovery of New Orleans and has pledged to have the North American Summit in the city this year. But I would have liked more detail and specifics as to what his commitment to the Gulf Coast means. His mere mention of a promise is not enough to give our citizens the assurance they need that the commitment of our federal government matches their day to day commitment to our recovery.

The President spoke of our economic crisis in a few paragraphs in the span of a twelve page speech. Apart from our recovery no issue is more important to the people of Louisiana and the American people at large, than forging a credible plan for the recovery of our economy. Foreclosures, job loss, low wages, gas prices and lack of access to health care are critical challenges to the average family in our district and across the country.

Additionally, I am concerned that some of the economic stimulus proposals are the same as proposals previously included in the Gulf Coast Go-Zone legislation and may have the effect of drawing investment away from the Go-Zone to other areas of our country. While we must spur our economy, it is important that we do not water down the competitive edge allowed the Gulf Coast to recover.

Over all, there must be a renewed sense of dedication to our domestic agenda. We continue to support our troops engaged in combat abroad, but when we devote seven pages of a twelve page speech to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and a few paragraphs to the most important domestic concerns facing our country and region, we are destined to continuously neglect the needs of our citizens here at home

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