Cole Response to 2015 State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress.

"Tonight's presidential address represents another missed opportunity for the president to unite and lead the country," said Cole. "Instead of focusing on areas where bipartisan agreement is possible, his proposals will further divide us and shake the confidence of hardworking Americans who need to trust that their government can function—even when it is divided.

"Unfortunately, few of the president's proposals deal with the long-term challenges that our country faces. Although our current entitlement programs are on an unsustainable trajectory, the president continues to tout phantom economic recovery rather than proposing ideas to deal with our long-term deficit and entitlement challenges.

"While there has been some progress bringing down the deficit since Republicans took control of the House, our nation is still very much in debt and still overspending. This is not a problem that can be wished away or ignored, and it is most certainly not solved through the introduction of new programs—like free community college tuition—that require even more taxpayer dollars. It serves as a reminder that we need a budget that balances. Just as the battle for a balanced budget isn't over, neither is the need for reforms to programs like the Social Security Disability Fund, which is projected to go bankrupt under this administration.

"The president's latest tax proposal would force unfair redistribution of wealth, rather than creation of worthwhile employment opportunities. In any Congress, successfully enacting such tax policies is unlikely, but that is even truer in this Congress.

"Our nation's economic situation impacts our actual and perceived strength around the world. Today, there are mounting threats to our national security that require immediate and decisive leadership. One of the more obvious includes the mobilization against our deadly enemy, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). For months now, we have monitored the situation and been shocked by their acts of terror, yet the president has still failed to submit a request to Congress for use of force against the dangerous foe. While the president ‘talks a good game' about ISIL, he is pursuing a scattered, uncoordinated approach that is unlikely to destroy ISIL or win the domestic, bipartisan support needed to wage a long, hard campaign.

"Even in divided government, there are opportunities for bipartisan cooperation. Sadly, it doesn't appear that the president intends to pursue promising areas of agreement—like trade, infrastructure or tax reform. Instead, with the nation's most pressing problems occurring on his watch, the president's vision for the future fails to prioritize or offer real solutions to those challenges.

"This State of the Union is a disappointing start to the president's final two years in office. However, I pledge to continue to try and find areas of common ground where we can work together to move America forward," concluded Cole.

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