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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

South Florida lawmakers’ reactions to President Obama’s speech

South Florida lawmakers' reactions to President Obama's speech
BY MIAMI HERALD STAFF
01/20/2015 10:43 PM 01/20/2015 11:04 PM

A roundup of reaction from South Florida lawmakers and others to
President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech on Tuesday night.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida

"If history repeats itself, we're going to have trouble getting things
done because you're going to get into this partisan warfare that the
Republicans are going to reject some of the good ideas that the
president offered. But my job is to try to find that bipartisan sweet
spot so we can get things done around here."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida

"The American people are long overdue to have a president stand before
Congress and the nation and acknowledge reality: that the 20th century
is gone. That taxing successful people, overregulating job creators and
pouring more money into outdated government programs doesn't actually
help struggling people achieve the 21st century American Dream. That
saying wars are over isn't enough to keep us safe. That whether it be on
the battlefield, in cyberspace or at the negotiating table, we need a
strong and engaged America that stands up for our values and is ready to
defeat those who threaten our way of life. And that implementing new
immigration policies that haven't even been passed into law only makes
lasting reform more elusive.

"Instead of trying to manipulate our tax code to punish success,
President Obama should work with Congress to fundamentally reform our
tax code in ways that will grow our entire economy and provide relief to
all families. Instead of rewarding repressive, anti-American regimes
like Cuba and Iran with undeserved concessions that legitimize and
enrich them, he should condition normalized relations on real,
irreversible results that protect U.S. national security interests,
safeguard human rights and ensure greater political freedoms."

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami

"Lifting the embargo would be a betrayal to more than 11 million Cubans
who live under a tyrannical communist regime. The administration has
offered concessions to the Castro brothers receiving little to nothing
in return. Cuba has murdered American citizens, harbored fugitives and
aided terror organizations. By negotiating with an avowed enemy, the
President jeopardizes our national security. Congress must continue to
use every tool at our disposal to prevent these disastrous policies from
going into effect."

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami

"Tonight, President Obama delivered an inspiring plan that puts the
foundation of this country first – working families. At this critical
time, with an improving economy and increased job growth, the stage is
set for real change for our nation. We must do our part to restore the
ability for American families to own their own homes, secure well-paying
jobs, and pay taxes."

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Boca Raton

"The President's speech is a call to action to grow the middle class.
For us to be a secure, prosperous country our improving economy must
work for everyone. Better infrastructure means bigger paychecks. A more
family friendly workplace allows parents to work and still have quality
time to raise their children."

Eduardo J. Padrón, president of Miami Dade College

"I am strongly encouraged by the President's remarks on free college
education and so pleased it was a highlight of his speech. I hope that
Congress gives it serious consideration. I am confident this initiative
will make a tremendous difference in college completion and further
improve our nation's economy by creating a skilled workforce for new
jobs. The cost of college should not be barrier to college completion
when desire and good performance exist. College leaders have been
advocating for such a proposal for some time. Miami Dade College has
already implemented full tuition scholarships for a subset of its
students, and the new proposal will expand this opportunity of free
higher education to so many more.

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar

"Over the past year, we have seen great restoration of our national
economy, which has in turn provided increased opportunity and success
for everyday Americans. Indeed, this is the cornerstone of the 'American
Dream,' but this restoration has not been equitably distributed to those
who are most in need. I stand with the President and my Democratic
colleagues in believing that this inequality continues to be the most
divisive issue of our time."

National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)

"As a nation with a rich immigrant history, we know the important role
immigrants play in bolstering our economy and democracy. Immigrants like
Ana Zamora, a 21 year-old DREAMer from Dallas who sat with the First
Lady tonight, are determined to not let their legal status limit their
ability to make significant contributions to their communities while
they wait for a permanent legislative solution that will fix our
nation's broken immigration system once and for all."

American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp

"What is clear is that President Obama will use his last two years in
office to extend his version of presidential overreach into every part
of our lives. These policies and actions — Obamacare, a veto of
Keystone, so-called patent reform, executive actions on immigration, tax
increases that punish success and hard work, and absurd EPA regulations
that appeal only to the most fringe environmental activists — are
reckless and irresponsible, unconstitutional, and anti-Congressional."

Source: South Florida lawmakers' reactions to President Obama's speech |
The Miami Herald -
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article7836816.html

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