U.S. Representative Austria’s State of the Union Reaction

By U.S. Representative Steve Austria

A few months ago, the American people sent a powerful message to Congress: cut the wasteful Washington spending and support policies that will create long-term, sustainable jobs in places like Ohio.

While I appreciate the President talking about cuts, actions – and inactions – speak louder than words. In his State of the Union address, the President talked a lot about ‘investments,’ but if this is just a plan for another stimulus spending bill I can assure you that the American people will not accept that. Another failed stimulus is not the answer – we must focus on helping the private sector create long-term, sustainable jobs.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, we intend to rid the budget of wasteful Washington spending. I am hopeful that we can work together with the President to move a fiscally-responsible budget forward.

I, along with my House colleagues from both sides of the aisle, have already shown that we are serious about making changes in Washington: in the first few weeks of the 112th Congress we have already cut our own budgets, and today we voted to bring the federal budget back to Fiscal Year 08 levels or lower. I also recently signed on to the REINS Act, legislation which requires Congress to approve every new Major Rule proposed by the executive branch before it can be enforced on the American people.

Now it is time to roll up our sleeves, get to work, and see if this Administration can deliver on its promises.