State’s delegation finds little to like in Obama speech

WASHINGTON — The Republican members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation Tuesday evening said they found little to be impressed with in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech.

“It’s clear he’s not interested in working with folks,” said Rep. Tim Griffin, who said Obama “scolded” House GOP members in the address.

Obama “lives in a fairytale-type world” when it comes to governing, said Rep. Steve Womack.

The speech, he said, “was full of grandiose plans and an expanded role for government and no details on how we pay for it.”

Obama offered “little in terms of specifics” on how Congress should avoid deep, automatic spending cuts that are scheduled to be made across all areas of federal government at the end ofthe month, said Sen. John Boozman.

“I am disappointed that Obama did not provide any new, specific ideas to address the biggest issue facing our nation - jobs,” Boozman said.

Sen. Mark Pryor, the only Democratic member of the state’s congressional delegation, said that during most of the speech, particularly when Obama talked about deficit-reduction and job-creation strategies, he seemed conciliatory toward Republicans.

“He was really reaching out to people trying to find common ground,” Pryor said.

However, Pryor said, when the speech neared conclusion and Obama talked about “his agenda items” such as immigration, voting rights and gun control, the tone of the speech got more partisan.

Arguing that Congressfaces its “best chance” for a broad tax overhaul, Obama called for raising taxes on the “well-off and wellconnected” to avoid deep cuts in education and health care.

“Most Americans - Democrats, Republicans and independents - understand that we can’t just cut our way to prosperity,” Obama said. “They know that broad-based economic growth requires a balanced approach to deficit reduction, with spending cuts and revenue, and with everybody doing their fair share.”

Griffin, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes tax legislation, took issue with Obama’s suggestion that House Republicans want to make cuts in Medicare in order to preserve special tax treatment for corporations and the wealthy. He said House Republicans had passed legislation closingtax “loopholes” and had no intention of reneging on promises made to older people regarding Medicare.

“I think he resents the fact that he has to work with the House under our Constitution,” Griffin said.

Rep. Rick Crawford, RArk., said Obama’s speech did little to ease the challenges faced by his constituents in Arkansas.

“The president believes that more government is the solution to every problem facing our country,” Crawford said in a statement. “My constituents are burdened with excessive regulations, and they are concerned about our country’s massive debt.”