WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight, Americans heard more of the same from President Obama. He has no plan for real solutions to our economic challenges and no plans to encourage real job growth. Most importantly, he has no plans to help grow higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs.

“Nearly 2 million more Americans are out of work today than the day the President took office.  America has witnessed the longest period of sustained high unemployment since the Great Depression -- more than 8 percent every month he’s been in office  The President’s failed policies have led to an economy where nearly half of all Americans are now classified as poor or low-income, and more Americans than ever are on food stamps.

“The President promised to cut the deficit in half, but instead the deficit has more than doubled.  When the President took office, our national debt was $10.626 trillion, today it exceeds $15.271 trillion.  In just three years, President Obama has racked up more job-killing debt than was created between the presidencies of George Washington and George H.W. Bush.

“We must stop spending money we don’t have. Without spending discipline, raising taxes will seriously harm small businesses. Punishing hard-working taxpayers is not my definition of fair.

“House Republicans passed a budget that would scrap the tax loopholes, put an end to government bailouts and get our national spending under control.

“My Republican colleagues and I will continue to focus on rewarding, not punishing, hard-working Americans who play by the rules and earn success.”

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