Roby Column
U.S. Representative Martha Roby
January 30, 2012
Response to State of the Union:
Last week, President Barack Obama delivered the final State of the Union of his term.
Presidents typically deliver the State of the Union in January befor e a Joint Session of Congress to present their views on the legislative priorities for the year. Unfortunately, this year’s address sounded less like a legislative outline and more like a political speech.
We continue to witness a striking lack of leadership from the president on the most basic responsibilities of governance and on the issues of the highest priorities to Americans.
If the president’s priority were fiscal responsibility, he would call on Senate Democrats to pass an honest, gimmick-free budget, which they have not done in more than 1,000 days. If the president’s priority were job creation, he would call for the immediate construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would create thousands of jobs. If the president ’s priority was economic growth, he would find common ground on any of the 27 House-passed jobs bills-some of which he actually suggested. The reality is, the president has done none of this.
Right now, 27 House-passed, pro-growth, pro-jobs bills are sitting idle in the Senate. These bills are designed to help reduce government’s interference with the economy and create an environment that is ripe for sustained free-market growth and job creation. In a press conference this week, I urged Sen. Reid and the president to focus on passing these bills to help encourage job growth. Unfortunately, Sen. Reid refuses to allow debate on these bills and the president has threatened vetoes.
It is evident that Americans are frustrated. I share this frustration. I hope the president will stop delivering campaign speeches and start working with Congress to find common ground on the free-market, limited government policies that will actually deliver the economic growth that he touted in his first State of the Union three years ago. Demonstrating support for our package of 27 job related bills would be a good start.
The House is doing its job. The Senate must do its part. The American people await its action.
New Energy Exploration in Gulf:
On Friday, the Department of Interior announced plans to allow energy exploration on an additional 38 million acres of the central Gulf of Mexico. I was pleased to hear this information as I believe that the executive branch has moved too slowly in the past few years to bring American oil and natural gas reserves in the Gulf of Mexico online.
The announcement presents a good step toward unleashing energy production here at home, which can be done in an environmentally safe manner when rules are followed. Not only will the approval of this new lease help stabilize gas prices for working families and small businesses, it will also facilitate additional jobs and revenue for our area. In addition, through a law passed in 2006, Gulf St ates are eligible to receive 37.5 percent of the initial payment and royalties from the lease. Alabama can use this additional revenue to fund costal restoration and onshore infrastructure projects in our state.
Implementing an “all of the above” approach is by far the best strategy to solving our nation’s energy problem. Boosting American energy production is essential to generate job growth, lower the cost of energy, and free our nation from a dependency on foreign sources of energy.
The 39th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade:
As a member of the Pro-Life Caucus, I delivered a speech on the House floor marking the 39th anniversary of the monumental court decision Roe V. Wade.
Since the legalization of abortion in 1973, approximately 50 million abortions have been performed in the United States. Within the next year, more than 1.4 million children will be denied a chance for life.
I am unapologetically pro-life and I believe that the miracle of human life begins at the very moment of conception. Once conceived, every human being has the inherent right to life. I believe that the law must protect this right.
Alabama recently became the fifth state to pass a measure banning physicians from performing abortions after 20 weeks - which, according to research, is a point where unborn children can experience pain. I applaud our state and the Alabama legislature in its admirable fight to protect the unborn.
Each day is a chance to celebrate the gift of life and to mourn those lives unjustly lost to abortion. As a woman, a wife, and a mother of two small children, I will continue to fight for the unborn and do everything in my power to protect those who cannot fight for themselves.
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