Casten Statement on State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on President Trump's State of the Union address.
Casten said, "I ran for office, not to play politics, but to work hard to find solutions to pressing problems. I think the American people deserve elected leaders who really do want to come together to address challenges we all agree exist. I would have liked to have seen statesmanship and an end to the divisive rhetoric that has been a hallmark of his candidacy and his time in office. The President fell short. He could have demonstrated a willingness to solve problems that we all agree need to be addressed.
I appreciate his rhetoric on reducing drug prices and his acknowledgement of strong female leadership in the House, but ultimately his remarks fell short of the kind of bipartisan unity that our nation needs. I would have liked to have heard: a call for united action on climate change that includes real solutions like reducing CO2 emissions; a plan to repair the damage done in the last two years to the Affordable Care Act to ensure affordable, accessible health care for all; tangible measures to reduce the gun violence epidemic in this country; a commitment to women's rights, including the right to choose and a push for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
I believe the American people deserve to hear the truth from their elected leaders and that it is the duty of Congress to serve as a check on the President. There are places where we can and must find common ground with this White House but we cannot, and I will not, endorse falsehoods."