Washington, Jan 28 - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) released the following statement in reaction to President Bush’s last State of the Union address tonight:

“Our nation is facing growing challenges: American troops are still fighting in Iraq.  Our economy is on the brink of a recession.  The skyrocketing costs of healthcare and energy are squeezing working families to the limit. 

 “These problems demand quick action, but partisanship is crippling Washington.  That’s why we need leadership as much as we need ideas. 

 “Seeing the President’s speech tonight, I see places where Congress and the White House can find common ground.  We need to move quickly to pass an economic stimulus package into law that’s temporary, timely, and targeted, to bring relief to working families.  There’s been an encouraging level of bipartisan cooperation to achieve that goal. 

 “But the President has a long way to go to convince me that he is truly going to do anything other than more-of-the-same with issues like the war in Iraq, trade, or healthcare.  And the President needs to provide real leadership on boosting renewable energy production, not just an occasional mention in a State of the Union.”