Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) watched his first State of the Union address as a congressman Tuesday night.
The newly elected representative for the 15th congressional district shared his thoughts about President Barack Obama's speech and his views about the issues facing his constituents and the country.
This is what Swalwell said in a press release:
Tonight President Obama presented a vision for America that will move our economy forward and help create jobs. Our economy is on the right track, but more must be done to put us on a sustainable path forward. I will join the President to fight for policies that will strengthen our middle class and pursue balanced deficit reduction measures. The burden of deficit reduction should not be shouldered by the middle class and seniors.
I am proud that in the Bay Area we are an innovation center leading the world in technological achievements, and I commend the President for recognizing the high-growth opportunities in the clean energy sector. As the Ranking Member of the Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Energy with two national laboratories in my district, I believe federal investments in clean energy are smart for our economy and our environment, enabling us to create jobs and address the threat of climate change.
Growing our economy also includes fixing our broken immigration system. We need to allow high-skilled workers educated at American universities an opportunity to stay and help build our economy and create jobs. We also need to create a pathway to citizenship for workers already part of our communities.
Tragically, we have too often had to mourn the victims of mass shootings and as a prosecutor I often saw impact of gun violence on our communities. As the President stated, the time is now to take common-sense measures to reduce gun violence including closing background check loopholes. I am working with my colleagues in the House to ban access to military-style assault rifles, which already exists under California law.
We have big challenges facing our country, but I have never underestimated our ability to do big things. I am hopeful that Congress will come together to move our economy forward.
What did you think about Obama's speech? Do you agree with Swalwell's response to the State of the Union? Tell us in the comments section.
When still a prosecutor, what action would you take if a national insurance company decided that it needed to confiscate policyholders benefits in favor of their own unrelated "needs"?
Eric, the Democrat machine backed Stark - the people backed you -- how about some original ideas from you rather than sharing nothing more than the Democrat babble.
He dealt with the Executive Life Insurance Company default when he became Insurance Commissioner and wound up short-changing policyholders as well as those folks that had annuities and Guaranteed Income Contracts. And in the end, he wound up selling what was left of ELIC after separating the junk bonds out of the assets and sold both the bonds and the defunct insurance company to a entity backed by Credit Lyonnaise, which was 40% owned by the French government. And it was against California Law to sell a California Insurance Company to any entity out there with ties to a foreign government. But Garamendi was telling everybody who shoved a tape recorder or a microphone in front of him that he thought that this was what was for the best for the people. Meanwhile, the Insurance Commissioner's Office was also fielding lawsuits surrounding the ELIC transactions long after a Lockyer (this time Bill) succeeded Garamendi, especially when a whistle-blower came forward (somebody probably screwed out of their piece of the deal in the junk bonds) and Lockyer wound up hiring the lawyer that was suing the IC's office for the GIC's to go after the folks that profited from the deal. Last time I heard, the case was settled for around $3 Billion in 2006, but there may still be policyholders and annuity receipients out there who may never see a penny back of the monies they put in.
Listen Comrade - you are insane. You sound like all those people who took out mortgages who said "I don't know how we are going to pay for it, but lets buy it anyway. 0 Money down. How can we lose?" Every dollar the government taxes you - is one less dollar spent in the economy. I just don't get it. The government understands this premise because they try to tax the hell out of you to stop whatever behavior they want to stop. Smoking, eating bad foods. Yet, when they raise taxes on everyone they expect nothing to happen! Then they try to sell this rot to the public that nods and agrees.
Still, common ground exists in a couple of areas and we should see some of that agenda enacted. Mostly it's nice to start a year with momentum. Worriers abound, but economic growth is occurring overall and in critical sectors like manufacturing and housing. We're experiencing a mini tech boom here in the Bay Area but the recovery is happening nationally. We're not yet growing fast enough but we have a good chance to pick up the pace this year if we don't muck it up.
According to GDP - we aren't growing at all. Which is pretty sad since that small bump you will see at the beginning of the year is the sound of everyone who was smart - putting their financial house in order in Dec. There were a lot of special one time events in Dec.
And, GDP will be adjusted for Q4 but even if that one quarter remains low, the trend is clear. Manufacturing, housing, technology, company profits and private sector job creation are all improving. If you're right, maybe this is all just a blip and doom is just around the corner, but I don't think so and I'll continue bet against you on that.
Tax increases don't help either but that was our stimulus money at work. We brought those payroll taxes down when help was needed the most and now they're just returning to where they were before, as planned. If we were headed into unprecedented territory, I'd worry, but that's hardly the case. The Sequester and problems abroad might screw things up, but otherwise we can absorb temporary spikes in gas and the end of a stimulus tax cut.
Are you not aware that the economy CONTRACTED last quarter, and if it does that again this quarter, we are officially back in a recession? Are you not aware that unemployment rates are STILL higher than when Obama took office, and that's not even including all the people who have dropped out of the workforce? Are you not aware that gas prices are the highest they've EVER been at this time of year? The economy is NOT on the right track. Unless of course you live in DC, where the economy is better than just about anywhere else in the country. Has your head gotten that deep in the sand so quickly? You campaigned as a fiscal conservative. How can you make such a statement and maintain your credibility?
Besides - they have to say that. That way they can look dumbfounded, and can sheepishly reach their hands into your pockets. Look, no one could have seen this. I just need some moving around money. It was unexpected! Now give me what is in your pockets.