The economy was on the minds of the two Democrats, as well as the two Republicans.
Despite signs of a rebounding economy, members of Maine’s congressional delegation reacted to President Bush’s State of the Union address Tuesday night by pointing out the huge hit the state has taken in manufacturing jobs.
Maine led the nation in manufacturing job losses last year.
“Obviously, we have to do more on the economy,” U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said.
Both of Maine’s Republican senators gave the president’s speech high marks overall, while the two Democratic congressmen pointed out much they felt was lacking.
There were bipartisan concerns.
Bush’s call for privatization of Social Security sparked strong reaction from U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, who panned the president’s idea and said a constitutional amendment is needed to protect the current system.
Snowe echoed Michaud’s sentiments, suggesting such a move toward privatization “could undermine the integrity” of the program.
She said she was “surprised” he raised the issue at all in the speech.
Both Snowe and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins credited Bush for focusing attention on an improved economy and a continued threat posed by terrorism.
“I thought the president’s plan for action was on the mark,” Collins said. “We have to continue to confront the terrorist threat and economic recovery.”
While Michaud was heartened to hear Bush address governmental spending with a five-year plan aimed at deficit reduction, U.S. Rep. Tom Allen noted that the president’s tax cut proposals would saddle future generations with paying off the debt the cuts would generate.
“The speech reflected a lack of fiscal reality,” he said. “The math doesn’t work.”
Bush’s reference to proposed legislation that would allow small business owners to band together to negotiate for lower insurance premiums for their workers mirrored a bill Snowe submitted in the Senate that would allow creation of so-called Association Health Plans, she said.
Michaud said Bush devoted roughly one-third of his address on the Iraq war but was silent on the issue of veterans’ benefits and funding.
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