Congressmen React to Obama's Speech

Western Pennsylvania’s congressional representatives are reacting to Thursday night’s speech to a joint session of Congress by President Barack Obama regarding job creation, transportation and taxing equity between the wealth, middle class and poor.

Congressman Tim Murphy (R-18th District) of Upper St. Clair told Patch.com he is encouraged that the president is considering relaxing some burdensome regulations. However, he is dismayed that the president has laid out tax cuts that will raise the deficit without specifics on how to balance the approach with spending cuts.

“He put it on us,” Murphy said. “I liken it to someone sitting down for dinner and walking out on the tab. You decide how to pay for it.”

Murphy said the country needs an energy policy that will produce more domestic drilling for oil.

Still, he said he thinks there is some common ground to move forward with the president.

“We’ve got to work on this together. That means being an adult and working this thing out,” Murphy said. “I’m certainly hopeful, but then again, so far the president is giving statements, but not following through."

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-14th District) of Forest Hills backed the plan put forth by the president.

“I wholeheartedly agree with the president that the federal government has to act decisively to help struggling Americans, get our economy back on track and create more jobs,” Doyle said on his Facebook page. “I have called for congressional action to help create more jobs for some time. The American Jobs Act, which the President proposed last night, is a good place to start

Congressman Jason Altmire (D-4th District) of the North Hills called for an end to speeches and encouraged Congress to take action.

"The president gave a nice speech, but the time for speeches is long gone,” Altmire said in a statement on his website. “The American people aren't looking for more of the same rhetoric from Washington. Now is the time for action.

Altmire said Congress needs to pass a comprehensive reauthorization of the federal transportation law.

“This single piece of legislation means thousands of jobs in western Pennsylvania providing strong investments in our roads, bridges and dams,” he said. “I am ready to move forward, without the partisan gridlock that has stalled our economic growth, in order to put Americans back to work."