My response to President Obama's State of the Union address tonight:

"I was glad the president tonight addressed both the need to bring our out-of-control spending and deficits under control and that he spent a lot of time focusing on the need for economic growth and job creation. I disagree about the idea that we ought to raise taxes yet again. But if the president is willing to look at some of the areas where we can curb spending, I'd be delighted to work with him to hel...p put us on a sustainable fiscal path. The president talked about the opportunity for tax reform - I couldn't agree more that there's a chance to really generate economic growth and job creation through tax reform.

We could start with repeal of the medical device tax, an idea that has broad bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. Medical device tax is job crushing and costing us thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania. Repealing it would be very pro-growth.

And finally on the energy front, the president spent a lot of time talking about energy. Energy is really, in many ways, the key to strong economic growth. We could start - really kick-starting - our energy profile by improving the Keystone Pipeline, creating the thousands and thousands of jobs - including many in Pennsylvania - that would go toward the development of that pipeline and helping North American oil to flow.

So there are many areas where we can work together and help to restore fiscal discipline, put us on a path to a balanced budget, and get this economy moving again. And I look forward to working with anyone in either party to help us achieve those goals."See More