Kay

Star Telegram

Texas lawmakers: ‘Few solutions’ offered in Obama speech

WASHINGTON — North Texas Republicans in Congress were split when it came to sitting with a Democrat, but they were united in criticizing President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech.

“Tonight’s speech highlighted the massive disconnect between the president’s priorities and the nation’s most pressing challenges,” said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who chose not to have a “date” with a Democrat. “Rather than seriously address those challenges, the president went through a familiar wish list that both Congress and the American people have already rejected,” Cornyn said.

Republican Reps. Joe Barton of Ennis and Kay Granger of Fort Worth, along with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, all sat with Democrats. Barton sat with Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, Granger with Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, and Hutchison with Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.

In an experiment begun last year, Republicans and Democrats sat together in a show of bipartisanship and civility after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell, who did not sit with a Democrat, said the president failed to offer real solutions while “the American people are hurting and want jobs.” Granger agreed, saying she heard “a lot of familiar themes but very few solutions” from Obama.

Hutchison, who is retiring this year, attended her last State of the Union address as senator. She, too, blasted the president for “three years of national economic turmoil.” But she also had some praise, commending him for his work on free trade, capital formation and domestic drilling. On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, said he hopes that the speech will help build cooperation and not divisions in Congress.