STATE OF THE UNION-COLORADO
DENVER—Colorado legislators prioritized the nation’s economy Monday night, committing to work with President Bush to stave off a recession as Bush gave the final State of the Union of his administration. Republicans Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave praised the president for a bold speech. By George Merritt
“I thought that was a very basic, hard-hitting speech that you would expect out of a president in his first term—not one in his last year,” said Allard, who is also entering his final year in office.
In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Allard praised Bush’s promise to veto any tax increase that Congress sends to his desk, as well as Bush’s promise to veto spending bills unless Congress cuts the pet projects know as “earmarks” in half.
Musgrave said she hoped a bipartisan economic stimulus package negotiated last week was a harbinger of cooperation in Bush’s final year.
“I think the president really held his head high tonight as he talked about the challenges that he has faced as President of this great country,” she said. “I really felt like he really challenged us to come together and work for the good of the county.
Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar said he had hoped the president would spend more time on how lawmakers could spur the economy.
“I thought the State of the Union was an OK speech, but I had hoped it would have been better,” Salazar said. “I agree with him in terms of moving forward in some sense to jump-start the economy, but I think he failed to address the longer-term economic problem that we face in this country.”
Democrat Rep. Mark Udall said he looked forward to working with the president, despite the partisanship that has marked the last seven years.
“It struck me that there is no reason we can’t make this last year of the Bush administration a success for America,” he said. “And I say that because the challenges we face are too great to bide our time.”
Udall, who is running against former Republican Rep. Bob Schaffer to replace Allard in the Senate, sent out a release detailing several points where he agrees with the president, noting among other things that the buildup of 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq has seen “some real improvements.”
But he said the country could not afford an open-ended war in Iraq.
“It is costing us $2 billion per week,” Udall said. “It is time to turn Iraq back over to the Iraqis.”
Bush said Monday the troop “surge” and an increase in Iraqi forces “have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago.”
“Some may deny the surge is working,” Bush said, “but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al-Qaida is on the run in Iraq and this enemy will be defeated.”
Bush’s toughest critic was fellow Republican and immigration hawk Rep. Tom Tancredo, who pulled out of the race to replace President Bush late last year. Tancredo called the president’s call for some kind of worker program for immigrants “shameful and disappointing” in a release.
“Saying we can’t secure our border without an amnesty is like saying one can’t go fishing without a tractor; it just doesn’t make sense,” said the congressman, who is retiring.
The comments came as the president told Congress and the country to remain confident despite a sagging economy .
“We have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done,” Bush said.
It was his final State of the Union address and he faced a Democratic-led Congress eager for the end of his term next January.
Even Musgrave said she couldn’t help but think about the coming election seeing several presidential candidates present at the speech.
“I kind of felt like I was stepping back and seeing history,” she said. “Interesting to watch all that and think about what is ahead for our nation.”
