Congressman Wilson’s Response to the State of the Union

"The conditions across America leading up to this speech tonight are quite serious - unemployment is at double digits and in South Carolina, it is at an all time high at 12.6%. Hardworking families across the country are facing a difficult state of affairs. Like many of these families who tuned in tonight, I too was hoping to hear more concrete job creation plans from the President.

"I was encouraged by the President's mention of a first-time homebuyers tax credit, but there are many more important proposals that we have presented to Speaker Pelosi that I hope will receive more bipartisan support - including the President's.

"American families are concerned about immediate job creation in their communities and the debt that lawmakers continue to pawn off on our children and grandchildren. They want more than just rhetoric about the so-called stimulus and they want more than just a small, symbolic effort to cut spending.

"Truly tackling out-of-control Washington spending will require a spending freeze based on 2008 levels. It will also require a commitment from Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to forgo their 85% spending spike.

"On the issue of national security, I was pleased that the President reiterated the value of sending 30,000 more reinforcements to Afghanistan. I very much respect the President's decision to listen to our commanders on theground as they aggressively pursue a multi-dimensional counter-insurgency strategy to secure Afghanistan. For the sake of our mission, American families at home, and our brave men and women in uniform, I hope the President can rally Congressional leaders behind his strategy and our troops' mission," said Congressman Joe Wilson.

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