Blog Post

Tonight, President Bush addressed this Congress in his State of the Union for the last time in his presidency. Unfortunately, what we heard was more of the same.

We have so many challenges facing our nation -- a reeling housing market, a slumping economy, and the ongoing war in Iraq - yet, I didn't hear anything new from the President tonight on these issues.

America needed to hear from a leader tonight, but instead we heard from a follower: a president following his same, worn out and ineffective solutions to the real problems facing the American people.

The President called for spending more and more and more, and he would do so by mortgaging America again and again and again.

2008 presents a tremendous opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to shatter the mold and public expectations by working together to achieve bipartisan solutions on key issues. Nowhere is this more critical than in the area of tax reform.

It will take more than one year to restore the damage inflicted by President Bush's misguided policies and priorities.

Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-TX), immediate past president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), delivered the Spanish language response to the State of the Union from the Speaker's Ceremonial Office:

Transcript in English:

Good evening this is Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte

Tonight I speak to you not only as a Democrat, but as one of you: a concerned parent, grandparent, community member, and worker.

Tonight, Members of Congress will be stopping by The Gavel to blog their reactions to the President's final State of the Union Address. The 110th Congress has begun to move America in a New Direction -- but we face challenges that demand much more change. 30 Something Democrats, Rep. Tim Ryan and Rep.

From the Democratic Caucus:

Statement of House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel in Response to White House Earmarks Announcement

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel released the following statement in response to the new White House Executive Order on earmarks: