Thoughts on the State of the Union

Yesterday marked the President's State of the Union address.  It also marked the 1,000th day without a budget from Senate Democrats.  As some have pointed out, the last time the Senate passed a budget you had never heard of the iPad. Tiger Woods was only known for his golfing abilities. General Motors had never declared bankruptcy. You had never heard of Swine flu. And the national debt was $4 trillion smaller than it is today.

My take away from last night is that hardworking taxpayers deserve better.  These Americans rise early and go to bed late; they work hard, live honestly, and they care about the future of their nation.  Last night they heard more speechwriter rhetoric.  Even the words last night were not new; surely the policies will not be either. (Watch this video for more on that last point.)

Hardworking taxpayers are angry that their future is stuck in the hands of an incompetent and dysfunctional government - a government that can regulate light bulbs but that can't regulate its own spending.  A government that talks about “restoring American values” but bans prayer in public places.  A government that talks about jobs but instead manufactures regulation and red tape.

I am proud to be a voice fighting to deny government the right to pick the winners and the losers.  Americans know that we can rebuild our nation with our hands - by working together.  We just cannot do it with government on our backs.