Members of Congress React to President Obama’s Speech
NY SPEECH REACTION
WENY-TV
Lindsay Perna
Boston University Washington News Service
February 25, 2009
WASHINGTON –Contemplation and outright glee were painted on the faces in the
House chamber as President Obama addressed the House and Senate in a state-of-the-
union-style speech on Tuesday night.
“I know there are some in this chamber and watching at home who are skeptical of
whether this plan will work. I understand that skepticism,” Obama said.
As the nation faces overwhelming numbers of jobs lost and debt gained, lawmakers of
the twin tiers of Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York shared mixed emotions
on the President’s remarks one week after he signed the near trillion dollar stimulus bill
into law.
The state’s members of Congress were paying close attention to each phrase and it
showed—either during the multiple occasions when Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.)
sprung to his feet in generous ovations, encouraging others to follow his lead, or while
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) wrote copious notes in her program.
Gillibrand, who left her seat amid the other senators to give her predecessor, Secretary of
State Hilary Clinton, a quick hug and kiss before Obama took the podium, was noticeably
enthusiastic as she followed the cues of praise throughout the 54-minute speech.
“We all must stay focused on solutions,” she said. “I am so pleased that we have a
President that will work with Congress and work with both parties to forge solutions.”
Traveling across New York State for the past few weeks, Gillibrand said she has seen
firsthand the issues plaguing her constituents and is pleased that the President has made
them a priority.
“We can create jobs by fostering new industry through renewable energy and
infrastructure, investing in health care and education to ensure long-term economic
growth, and cutting taxes for the middle class and small businesses to help them grow,”
Gillibrand said in a statement.
A strong opponent of deficit spending, Rep. Eric J.J. Massa (D-N.Y.) said he found the
commitment that President Obama made in his speech to halve the federal deficit
encouraging.
“Now as a member of Congress, I look forward to holding him to his pledge and helping
him obtain it,” Massa said in a statement.
“The investments that the Reinvestment and Recovery Act include are essential for re-
establishing liquidity to our nation’s economy, rebuilding our struggling schools,
strengthening our infrastructure and restoring vitality to American businesses,” Massa
said.
For Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), the nation had seen too many Presidential addresses
where “the rhetoric didn’t match the subsequent actions.”
“Having seen President Obama follow through on his pre-inaugural pledge to quickly
enact a major job-creating economic recovery bill upon taking office, I am extremely
confident that the ambitious agenda he set forth this evening will be addressed in a
forthright and effective manner,” Hinchey said in a statement.
In particular, he said he was pleased the Obama’s nods to renewable energy, health care,
and education.
“Challenging times call for bold action and I look forward to working with President
Obama to enact the policies he laid out in his address tonight,” said Hinchey.
Rep. Christopher P. Carney (D-Pa.) said he appreciated the President’s optimism and
candor, but remains concerned with the President’s housing plan.
“I represent a district where over 98 percent of people pay their mortgages on time.
Northeast and central Pennsylvania is made up of hardworking, responsible people who
did not fall prey to the greed and corruption we have seen dismantling our financial
institutions on Wall Street,” he said in a statement.
“We need to make sure that the economic plans we devise truly keep Main Street at the
heart of the debate, particularly those who have been following the rules each step of the
way,” said Carney.
Standing in a sea of cameras in Statuary Hall outside the House floor, Rep. Glenn
Thompson (R-Pa.) said his optimism grew as the President identified the crises before the
country, such as Medicare and Social Security.
“I mean those are the things that are really looming on the horizon that we should have
been dealing with earlier in this term,” said Thompson.
“On those things where we can agree—I think we are going to be the President’s best
ally,” Thompson said of his Republican colleagues.
A health care professional for 30 years, Thompson said the current system is defunct and
was pleased that Obama is looking to unite health care providers and members of
Congress “to come up with the best possible health care reform for our country.”
“We need to improve accessibility. We need to improve affordability and we need to
maintain the quality that we are used to in this country. So that was affirming for me,”
Thompson said.
The congressman said he agreed with the President in terms of the country’s dependence
on foreign energy.
“That is dangerous to our economy and to our foreign defense,” he said.
Thompson said he was concerned with the President’s approach to climate change and
the tremendous tax burden it facilitates.
“You take small businesses in the 5th Congressional District that are very challenged—
and you pile a bunch of…carbon tax on top of them …that’s enough for those businesses
to go out of business—people will lose jobs and families will have no way to support
themselves,” he said.
Thompson said he does not know how the Obama administration plans on distributing the
claimed 7,500 jobs that will go to the 5th district of Pennsylvania, but he is keeping an
eye on the potential backfire of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.
“I’m concerned the stimulus may wind up worsening the recession—may result in
inflation as a result of deficit spending. That’s a heck of a legacy to pass along to your
children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Thompson said.
“Tonight were some good sound bites—but we really have to take a look at what he gets
us,” Thompson said.
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