Capito Statement on President's State of the Union Address

Statement

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R.W.Va., issued the following statement in response to the President's State of the Union Address:

"Americans are looking to the President for leadership as we address our nation's most pressing issues. We all agree that the challenges we face cannot be addressed in a partisan, one-sided manner. As such, Republican and Democratic lawmakers sat side-by-side in the House Chamber tonight, reminding us that despite trials and tribulations, that which unites us must always prevail over that which divides us.

"Right now, 15 million Americans want jobs but can't find them. Unemployment has stubbornly remained above 9 percent for a record 20 months.

"Our number one priority as lawmakers is to get people back to work. This means working together to reduce spending, lower our debt and give small businesses the certainty they need to hire and expand.

"One of the largest obstacles between wanting to lower the unemployment rate and actually doing it is regulatory compliance, yet the Democrats' healthcare and financial services laws include hundreds of new and complicated regulations like the 1099 filing form. Businesses should be focusing on moving ahead, not wasting time and resources following new and burdensome rules.

"The President laid out his plan to boost hiring and make America competitive. I agree with some of his proposals, such as a five year freeze on non-security discretionary spending, but this is only the start. Our debt and deficits are already at record levels and we need to be diligent about finding areas of waste right now. Republicans have lived up to our pledge to cut excess spending, starting with votes to end unnecessary government printing and reducing Member budgets by 5%.

"The President and I have disagreed on an approach to energy policy. He has an opportunity to demonstrate that he's serious about working across the aisle plan and adopt an all-of-the-above policy instead of using the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Interior to forward an anti-coal agenda"

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