For Immediate Release                                       Contact: Amanda Molk, 202-225-5256
January 28, 2003

Napolitano Responds to State of the Union

“President Bush delivered a great speech, but it needs to be backed up with action and with funding for our domestic priorities,” responded Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA38). “He mentioned those priorities—education, healthcare, homeland security—but he has continued to propose drastic funding cuts in all of these areas,” she noted.

In reaction to the President’s statement on the economy, Napolitano stated, “The President said that our top priority must be our economy and job creation. But his current economic proposal does not reflect this rhetoric. According to non-partisan economists, the Democratic proposal creates 800,000 more jobs than the Bush proposal in 2003. The President’s rhetoric is right on target, but Americans cannot use rhetoric to put food on the table.”

Tax cuts remain a centerpiece of the Administrations economic proposals. “Tax cuts must be geared toward the low and middle income workers and their families. But the President continues to propose tax cuts that are dramatically skewed toward the wealthiest. How can he ask Congress to tighten the purse strings for education and healthcare, but refuse to scale back his giveaways to the wealthiest Americans?” said the Congresswoman.

The Congresswoman, along with all Americans, was eager to hear the President’s comments on Iraq. “Unfortunately, the President still has not convincingly articulated why we need to attack now, and why we should attack without the support of our allies. Further, where is he going to get the money to fund this costly war and subsequent rebuilding of Iraq? How many more domestic priorities will he ask Congress to shortchange?” Napolitano continued.

“We cannot continue to mortgage our children’s future by neglecting domestic needs. We need to secure our homeland by giving first responders and municipalities the funding they need. We need to invest in education, healthcare and job creation. We need to provide small businesses with the funding and tools they need to thrive. We need to protect and preserve our environment. I sincerely hope that the President will work with us, instead of against us, to truly address all of America’s needs.”

Representative Grace F. Napolitano, 38th District of California
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