Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. made the following statement today regarding President Bush's State of the Union address:"The President struck a note of optimism and I applaud that, but optimism is nothing more than a word if it's not combined with action. Last year, President Bush promised to begin reducing the debt, privatize Social Security, make gas cheaper and find new energy sources and make health care easier to find and buy. A year later, gas is more expensive, health care is harder to find and afford, the national debt is nearly $8.2 trillion and we've made no progress in solving the Social Security challenge.
"I hope the President will get serious about two or three goals - namely, energy security, ethics reform, and reducing the cost of health care. In order to do these things, he should work with Democrats and Republicans. When we do these things, we will reduce the deficit and at the same time lower taxes on middle class families. This is what I pray the President and Congress will do this year."
