Politics & Government

Calvert Responds to Obama's State of the Union Address: No More 'Unilateral Executive Actions And Regulations'

U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert represents the 42nd Congressional District, which includes the Riverside County cities of Corona, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta, Menifee, parts of Temecula and surrounding unincorporated area.

Congressman Ken Calvert, R-Corona, issued the following statement Tuesday evening in response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address:

“During the remaining three years of President Obama’s term in office the majority of the American people want him to govern from the middle – not from the radical liberal left. The President needs to accept and respect the fact that voters elected a Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Instead of threatening more unilateral executive actions and regulations, I would urge the President to sit down with members from both parties and find common ground. In the House, we have approved a number of bills on a bipartisan basis that address our continued jobs shortage and the disastrous implementation of ObamaCare. Encouraging the Senate to take up these bills would be a productive starting point for President Obama’s 2014 agenda.”

During his hour-long speech Tuesday, the president indicated he would sign a bill to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 for employees of federal contractors. He urged legislators to support across-the-board increases in minimum wages as part of his stated goal to strengthen the middle class by closing the gap between the rich and poor.

If he does not get Congressional support for that and other initiatives (Read more about his speech here), Obama indicated he was not afraid to go it alone.

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“...What I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class,” Obama said. “Some require Congressional action, and I’m eager to work with all of you.  But America does not stand still – and neither will I.  So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”


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