Newsletter: Getting Serious About Solving America's Problems

Statement

Dear Friends,

In his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Obama pointedly noted that he'd run his last campaign. Yet he's having a hard time letting go.

Wednesday he flew to Boise and held what the Washington Post called "something of a pep rally" at Boise State. The president reminded listeners of his 2008 campaign stop and how winning the Idaho caucus helped propel him to office.

As many have written, the president seems determined to set the stage for his party to retain the White House in 2016.

That's his call. But it flies in the face of promises to work with Republicans in his final two years.

The president's State of the Union was peppered with veto threats. He glossed over the fact the middle class has suffered greatly on his watch. He failed to recognize that the economic turnaround began when Republicans took over after the 2010 election and put the brakes on his liberal initiatives.

Instead, he proposed tax-and-spend ideas he couldn't get passed when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress -- policies that would threaten the fragile recovery.

In short, he's failed to accept that the American people repudiated his agenda in the November election.

Still, I'm glad the president came to Idaho, home of hard work, self-reliance and balanced budgets. I'm pleased he met with Naghmeh Abedini to discuss the government's efforts to secure the release of her husband, Saeed, from prison in Iran.

I always try to remain optimistic. There's still time for president to follow the model of Bill Clinton and others who learned from mid-term defeats.

He says he wants to eliminate tax loopholes. So do I. What I'm not willing to do is increase spending and add to our $18 trillion debt.

Americans voted for change because they're worried about bread-and-butter issues. The House has already passed jobs bills to clear the way for the Keystone XL pipeline, put veterans back to work and ease regulations to reduce energy costs.

If the president will step away from campaign mode, he can join us in getting serious about solving America's problems.

Thank you,

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