Rep. Watson Responds to Bush State of the Union Address
January 29, 2003
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Diane Watson (CA–33rd) issued the following response to the President’s State of the Union Address:
“President Bush’s speech to the American people was long on rhetoric. But underneath that polished rhetoric the President outlined a domestic agenda that will not jump start the economy, put food on the tables of families, provide for affordable health care and a quality education for all Americans, nor strengthen our nation’s security.
“President Bush repeated the case against Saddam Hussein by describing him as a menace and again argued for the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iraq. But he failed to provide one shred of new evidence that a preemptive military strike is the only alternative we have to disarm Iraq, or that removing Saddam Hussein from power will guarantee that a new regime will be any less ruthless or friendly to the United States and its allies. In fact, he made the appeal to the American people that this Administration is prepared to intervene unilaterally – an action that will severely undermine international stability. The clear and present danger our nation faces is terrorism, and the President failed to demonstrate that a war in Iraq will blunt that threat.
“The President also mentioned that we are winning the war on terrorism, but I would say the job is far from finished with Osama bin Laden still lurking in the shadows and new outbreaks of terrorist attacks occurring worldwide.
“With respect to the domestic agenda, President Bush continued to promote his misguided plans for additional tax cuts, mostly for the wealthy, and a stimulus plan that fails to create jobs or put money into the hands of working class Americans who are more likely to spend it and stimulate economic growth.
“It is a cruel hoax that the President chose to highlight the Leave No Child Behind Act when his new budget will probably fail to provide adequate funding to implement the Act. Without funding, schools will not be able to hire new teachers. Many children will go without after-school help. What is most disturbing is that some analysts project that the state of California is slated to lose $4 billion in federal funding to implement the Leave No Child Behind Act. It will be very difficult, perhaps impossible, to make up that difference when we consider California’s $35 billion dollar budget shortfall for the current fiscal year.
“We live in perilous times with a persistent recession here at home and the looming threat of war abroad. The American people are demanding and entitled to answers. In the weeks and months ahead, the President’s State of the Union message will not be measured by its high-sounding rhetoric but by its ability to provide answers to our nation’s most urgent problems. I do not believe the President, last night, provided a persuasive prescription for peace and prosperity for all Americans."
For additional information contact Bert Hammond at 202-225-7084 or Lois Hill Hale at 323-965-1422.