Area lawmakers made it clear they didn't think much of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night.
U.S. Reps. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Howard, and Thomas A. Marino, R-Cogan Station, gave the president failing marks for the speech that outlined ways to fix some of the nation's pressing problems, including job creation, energy independence and other issues.
Marino said Obama's words sounded like a campaign speech.
"Since taking office three years ago, the president has contributed more to the deterioration of this middle class than any other president," Marino said in a prepared statement. "The things that matter most to the average American - good-paying jobs, maintaining a small business, owning a home, paying for health care and using a vehicle - are slipping beyond their reach."
Marino said Obama used his speech to blame others and divide.
Thompson, perhaps not as harsh in his criticism, still had less than praise for the president's address.
While Obama has pledged to commit to energy security, his administration has so far only countered any attempts to make the U.S. less dependent on foreign energy, including his recent denial of the Keystone XL pipeline.
During his speech, Obama took Congress to task for failing to come together in solving the nation's debt problems.
Thompson said the debt and other issues cannot be laid at the feet of the House.
"In the House, we've delivered for the American people by advancing bills to reduce spending, restore fiscal solvency and encourage new job creation," he said. "In fact, we've acted on more than 30 bipartisan bills, almost all of which have been denied consideration by the Senate. With any hope, the president will meet his commitment to 'fight obstruction with action' by calling on the Senate to work with the House on these important matters."
Given the national debt and the millions of jobless Americans, people are looking to their president for "more than just talk," Thompson said.
