“I was disappointed tonight that the president was unable put forward a strong, innovative agenda for confronting the major challenges facing our nation. We are badly in need of bold leadership to address our nation’s critical priorities such as: health care; the economy; balancing the budget; and completing the mission in Iraq.  

“Unfortunately, the irresponsible economic policies of this president and Congress have run America’s fiscal ship into the rocks.  With a national debt soaring over $8 trillion, our ability to tackle the big challenges facing America has been seriously undermined.

“It is my hope that Congress and the White House can tone down the ugly partisanship and work together in a bi-partisan manner to cut wasteful spending and enact budget reforms that will restore fiscal sanity to our government.   

“We must not continue down the current path - our country deserves better.”