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Washington, D.C. --- Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s State of the Union address:
”Americans would have like some straight talk from our President about the state of our nation.
“Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri have been at large for 1603 days, and that is where the President’s attention should be—not conducting a preemptive, warrantless spying program on Americans that has seen the Defense Department and FBI spy on environmental groups, animal rights groups, anti-war groups, religious groups, Arab American groups and other innocent citizens with no connection to al Qaeda or its surrogates.
“One hundred and fifty-five days after Hurricane Katrina, the people of the Gulf Coast also have reason to question the President’s priorities. T he issue of housing for many Katrina survivors is still unresolved. Legal and financial woes are pitting survivors against landlords, insurance companies, and banks. And no FEMA officials have been held accountable for the failed response, and there’s no reason to believe that the next incident—whether it be storm damage or a terrorist attack—will turn out any better than the Katrina damage.
“What was also noteworthy was what the President didn’t say—that his forthcoming budget will call for charging veterans and military retirees new enrollment fees and prescription drug co-payments, forcing veterans to pay for health care they’ve already earned by risking their lives for America. Given the fact that the VA turned away over 260,000 veterans last year, the President’s action can only be described as a gratuitous insult.
“The President can still chart a different course, if he chooses. He can choose to make investing in people and emerging technologies a priority, to help us retain our competitive edge and keep good paying jobs here at home. He can choose to implement a sustainable energy economy that promotes alternative energy sources, thereby reducing our dependence on oil supplies in the volatile Middle East . He can choose to take common sense measures to protect Americans at home and abroad by focusing on building real alliances to fight real enemies, instead of scorning the international alliances America has built over the last 50 years. And he can choose to support the creation of workable universal health care coverage for all Americans so that your healthcare coverage doesn’t depend on whom you work for.”
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