Media

Washington Examiner - Sean Lengell

The Republican Party toned down partisan rhetoric in its official response to the President Obama’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night, focusing on the party’s plans and ideals instead of directly responding to the administration’s agenda.

Newly elected Sen. Joni Ernst, a no-nonsense conservative from Iowa who delivered the rebuttal, portrayed a compassionate GOP that understands — and will address — the concerns, anxieties and pains of average Americans.

At the end of last year and ahead of the 114th Congress, lawmakers in both chambers voted to fund the government and avert another painful and unnecessary shutdown. While the legislation funded nearly all areas of government through the end of the fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was only funded through February. This legislative strategy was enacted to allow the new majority in both chambers the opportunity to address the president’s unconstitutional executive order related to immigration and rightly block funding for its implementation.

The Oklahoman - Chris Casteel

The start of the new Congress has been marked by familiar conflicts between Republicans and President Barack Obama, raising questions about whether the next two years will yield anything but more grid-lock.

Obama is scheduled to give a State of the Union speech Tuesday to a Congress totally controlled by Republicans for the first time in his presidency.

Roll Call - Niels Lesniewski

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair drew three standing ovations when he addressed the joint House-Senate Republican retreat Thursday with a speech that one lawmaker likened to the oratory of Winston Churchill.