President Obama takes his State of the Union goals on the road Wednesday.
The three-day trip includes stops in politically crucial states as he tries to sell his 2012 economic policy goals while pitching his presidency to a divided public. Erie County Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy says the president delivered his address well, but has failed to delivery any results.
"A lot of nice campaign rhetoric from the President tonight so far, but I think the proof is really in the way he has in the last three years governed this country and I think the economy has gotten worse," said Langworthy.
But fellow democrats had a more glowing review of Obama's speech.
Western New York democratic Congresswoman Kathy Hochul was excited about the unified vision.
"The President’s proposal to revitalize our manufacturing community, invest in American infrastructure, and focus on job training at community colleges, like ECC, NCC, and MCC, will keep America competitive and bring jobs back to the United States. It’s time we stop rewarding those companies that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America," said Hochul. "I, however, would have liked to hear more about the President’s plan to cut the deficit and reduce our national debt. This is why I supported the Balanced Budget Amendment that requires Congress to balance its finances in the same way Western New York families do every day; and why I support efforts to streamline government,eliminate waste, and be more responsive to the needs of American businesses."
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter responded specifically to two tenants of his speech that she has worked on for years: rebuilding America’s manufacturing sector through trade enforcement and passing legislation that would end insider trading among Members of Congress.
“I was delighted to hear the President’s enthusiasm to sign legislation that ends insider trading in Congress and finally reigns in the political intelligence industry that’s been lurking in the shadows of the halls of Congress. I’ve been working on the STOCK Act since 2006 and I say that if the President wants to sign the STOCK Act, let’s get it through the House and send it to him!,” said Slaughter. “It is my hope that the bill that we send to the President is the same bill that has received overwhelming support. The STOCK Act is bipartisan, has enough support to pass the House and is what we should make the law of the land," said Slaughter.
Congressman Brian Higgins was also pleased with Tuesday night's address.
"Tonight we heard the President discuss plans for an America “Built To Last” with a renewed focus on many of the very things historically that made this Nation great – opportunity for an affordable education, the encouragement of discovery and innovation, and for those who work hard the promise for a better tomorrow," said Congressman Higgins. “Many of the points hold great opportunity for Western New York. Our region has a strong manufacturing base, is home to dozens of quality higher education institutions and our residents have a work ethic like none other. A focus on the next generation of high-tech manufacturing is already creating jobs at the Ford Stamping Plant in Woodlawn and GM in Tonawanda. The continuation of this effort to advance products “Made in America,” educate the next generation of thinkers and train our workers will help more local business grow and thrive."
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was also pleased to hear the President's renewed call to make insider trading by members of Congress, their staff and family members clearly and expressly illegal by passing the bipartisan STOCK Act.
“Our economy can’t afford another year of governing through brinkmanship that we’ve seen too much of from this Congress. We need to set our politics aside, and find the common core values we can agree on to create jobs and set economic opportunity for the middle class in motion – by giving everyone a fair chance to succeed, rewarding hard work, and investing in ‘Made In America’ again," said Gillibrand.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said President Obama put forward a bold vision to strengthen the national economy, grow America's middle class, and protect consumers.
"The President is right to put private sector growth at the center of his agenda to create jobs, and his address laid out specific steps to build our country's economy not just for today but for future generations as well," said Governor Cuomo."Here in New York State we have seen the effectiveness of public-private partnerships at jumpstarting economic growth. I applaud the President's proposal to work with private industries to rebuild America's manufacturing sector and his call for tapping into alternative energy sources to power our economic recovery. As we in New York work to transform our state's education system, I welcome President Obama's call for a renewed focus on making sure all students receive the education and training they need to be successful in today and tomorrow's economy. Our top priority must be jobs, jobs, jobs. When the national economy improves New York benefits, and I look forward to continuing to work together with the President and our federal representatives to grow our economy."