Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Isakson Statement on State of the Union
Says Real ‘Fairness’ Would Be Government Finally Doing What Americans Have Had to Do: Live on a Budget, Prioritize Spending, Pay Down Debt

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., tonight issued the following response following President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“Real ‘fairness’ would be government doing what American families have had to do: sit around the kitchen table, prioritize spending, get their spending in line and not borrow too much money.

“When it comes to taxation, we need a comprehensive approach. The president’s own commission, Simpson-Bowles, recommended that we do away with many of the current tax expenditures and tax deductions, lower the tax rate on our taxpayers and produce more income. That will bring capital off the sidelines and investment back to small business. We need a comprehensive approach, not a winners and losers approach to tax reform.

“Additionally, if on the one hand, you speak of more jobs for Americans and energy security, and on the other hand, you reject 20,000 jobs, which the Keystone XL pipeline would have brought about, and 700,000 barrels of crude from Canada, one of our best friends, then you are saying one thing and doing something else—that’s wrong for our country. We need leadership on energy security.”