.1/28/08 Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.,
tonight made the following statement regarding President Bush’s State
of the Union Address:
“Overall, I know
this was an important moment for President Bush to make a final push
for his agenda and at the same time use the opportunity to push for
new ideas. I think it was appropriate that the theme of his speech
underscore the importance of trust, because Americans continue to lose
faith in their government’s ability to get anything done –
particularly in the area of border security. The reality is, we are
in the midst of a 2008 presidential contest and while that will hinder
the president’s ability to a certain extent, it should not obscure the
simple fact that Georgians are looking for action and results on the
issues they care about: economic security, border security, national
security, health care, and education.”
ISSUES OF INTEREST:
THE ECONOMY
I am pleased the president asked
Congress to make the tax cuts permanent. This is a policy Georgians
support and we need to ensure that this becomes a reality. Otherwise,
hard-working Georgians will be stung with a tax increase once they
expire. American families are being squeezed by the high price of
gasoline, rising health care costs, and the housing slump. Congress
should quickly take action to help by enacting a stimulus package, and
I am in support of a stimulus package to jumpstart the economy as long
as it helps those who need it the most, does not raise taxes and does
not increase the size of government. We need to create and protect
more American jobs by helping our small business community and the
American manufacturing sector. Further, if we don’t implement
policies to reduce our energy dependence then future generations will
suffer the consequences.
BORDER SECURITY
Senator Isakson and I made repeated
calls last year for the president to send an emergency supplemental to
Congress to fund border security. I’m pleased the president
highlighted some of the steps the administration has taken on this
issue, but we still have a problem and it needs to be solved -
beginning first and foremost by securing the border - because that is
where the problem of illegal immigration begins and where it has to be
halted. Georgians made it clear last year that they do not trust the
federal government when it comes to this issue.
HEALTH CARE
This morning I had the opportunity to
visit two hospitals in the Atlanta area and have a frank discussion
with the administration and professionals at those facilities. Health
care is indeed the most important domestic issue facing America today,
and I believe we must protect the right of patients to choose their
own doctors and the hospitals they prefer. I am pleased the president
highlighted the current problems that exist with the tax code, and
we’ve got to have in the ultimate health care solution some type of
tax credit for individuals. Our overall health care situation is
critical. We must not fail, and we must get it right to maintain the
best health care system in the world.
EDUCATION
We need to reauthorize No Child Left
Behind, but I want to make sure Georgia’s teachers know that we are
listening to what is going on in the classroom and assure them that we
will address the problems the legislation has presented and make the
necessary changes. We must enact policies that will prepare our young
people for the demands of the 21st Century and allow them
to compete for the high skilled jobs of the future. Most importantly,
however, local control must remain a top priority.
WAR ON TERRORISM
I support the president’s call to fully
fund our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I echo his call for
Congress to pass legislation to close the gaps in our foreign
intelligence collection process. As we continue the war on terrorism,
it is critical that Congress amend the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act in order for us to ensure that our intelligence
community has the tools and the legal framework necessary to protect
our country and collect vital information.
Since September 11, 2001, we have been
fortunate not to have suffered another attack on domestic soil, but
threats continue to exist. While the war in Iraq has invoked a
protracted, partisan debate for several years, it is difficult for
anyone to dispute the fact that since this time last year, shortly
after the troop increase was announced, the security environment on
the ground there has dramatically improved. I have seen this progress
firsthand in my three trips to Iraq this past year.
