Skip to main content

Bipartisan Solutions Require Strong Leadership from Administration

January 31, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel issued the following statement in response to President Bush's speech on the economy today:

"In his speech today, President Bush touched on a number of critical issues, but he missed a golden opportunity to truly work with Congress toward solutions. Many of the issues he discussed are traditionally partisan issues, and will not lead to bipartisan solutions without strong leadership on his part.

"There are Democrats and Republicans in Congress now who are eager to put the partisanship aside and work together. Instead of lecturing Congress about what needs to be done, the President should have his Cabinet officials reach out and begin discussions on critical issues. Together we can tackle the rising cost of health care and expand coverage for the uninsured, protect Social Security's guaranteed benefit for generations to come, build an American trade policy that brings and keeps good wage-earning jobs here in America, train our workforce to compete and win in a global economy, recognize and combat the cost of poverty, and work to provide economic peace of mind for all Americans."

###