Rep. Chu Reacts to President Obama’s State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday night, President Obama delivered his sixth State of the Union address. Representative Judy Chu (CA-27) attended the address and released the following statement:

“The President made a clear argument last night that our economy and country have weathered the Great Recession and are on the mend. But, while unemployment has dropped, many Americans have simply given up looking for jobs altogether. Which is why if we want to create new jobs, we can’t just make promises, we need to make investments. I fully support his proposal for free community college. As a teacher for two decades, I’ve seen firsthand that an education is the single best way to get on the path to higher wages. Guaranteeing 14 years of free schooling for all who want it will remove the expensive road block that has kept millions off that path. A higher education should not just be for the privileged, which is why I support the President’s plan to give opportunity to all by raising taxes on the wealthiest few.

“Improving access to education is just one way to help the middle class. The President’s plan to guarantee paid sick and family leave will stop penalizing workers for having a family and finally bring us up to the standard met by the rest of the developed world.

“These are smart proposals that build on the middle class focused polices my colleagues and I have pursued, as opposed to the failed trickle down economics that help only a handful at the expense of the rest. I encourage my Republican colleagues to stop proposing legislation that appeals to a few and instead act on legislation that will benefit all. The American people did not elect a Congress that would take votes intended for vetoes.”