Rep. Jenkins Statement on State of the Union Address

Statement

U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) issued the following statement tonight regarding President Obama's State of the Union address:

"Voters sent a clear message of change to the president in November, yet President Obama continues with business as usual. Tonight's State of the Union was more of the same -- more spending, more tax increases, and more class warfare. President Obama focused on what divides us, not what unites us," Rep. Jenkins said.

"What unites us is a desire to build a better country for our children and grandchildren, to work together to solve the problems our nation faces. Tonight could have been an opportunity for the president to signal his intent to work with Congress -- Republicans and Democrats, members of the House and the Senate -- to reach agreements on the serious issues we must address. While he mentioned energy production, he missed the opportunity to embrace our nation's most abundant and affordable energy source, coal like that produced in West Virginia. Instead, the president made it clear that he will continue to act alone and ignore the constitutional role of Congress to write our nation's laws.

"Republicans and Democrats in the House have passed dozens of bills with broad bipartisan agreement, proving that Congress is capable of working together to write and pass important bills. We should work together on issues important to West Virginians, including making coal a vital component of an all-of-the-above energy plan, passing a transportation bill, and kickstarting our economy to protect and grow jobs. We need a president who is willing to join us in the journey of working to make our country better, not one who would rather act alone."

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