Rep. Zinke responds to State of the Union Address

The following remarks were made by Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke about President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address on Jan. 20, 2015.

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After listening to the President’s State of the Union Address, I’m disappointed. He had an opportunity here to talk about an energy plan that made sense, and what are we going to do about the economy?

Rather than a tax-and-spend policy, which he did talk about, we need to talk about what the engines of this economy are, which are the free enterprise system, creating opportunity, getting the anchor of government bureaucracy off and out, so small businesses can do well and prosper.

The death tax: For 28,000 Montana farms and ranches, the death tax is truly that, a death tax. Montanans will not be able to pass down the farm and ranch, which generations have worked hard to keep and maintain.

Terrorism: President Obama still fails to identify what the threat is. It is an Islamic terrorist organization, and we can’t combat terrorism unless you first identify what it is. It is an ideology stemmed in evil, and the core of it wants to destroy the West and America. And in order to combat it, we have to identify what it is and take action and lead from the front.

We need a plan on our southern border and immigration. The President doesn’t get to make law. The Constitution, which I’ve taken an oath to defend, is an honored, time-tested document, and it’s our guiding light as a country. Whether the President likes or dislikes a law, he does not have the authority to make law — that’s Congress. I didn’t hear any statement about he’s willing to work with Congress to defend the Constitution and separation of powers and how we’re going to go forward on an immigration plan that makes sense.

I’m disappointed because as the President he has a bully pulpit. He has an opportunity, based on this last election and based on the values of our country, to uphold them and address the problems that face our country, which are debt, national security, immigration, energy policy and tax reform. The President’s message failed to address any of those with a plan that is either viable or articulated.

But don’t worry, Congress is there, and I remain an optimist — America is strong enough. Give them the truth and the best days of America are not behind us, they’re in front of us, and Congress is going to do our duty. Thank you and God bless.