By Matt Laslo, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-948107.mp3
Washington – Congressional republicans and democrats made a show of bipartisan support Tuesday night, sitting together for the state of the union speech. But the Congressional delegation from Texas weighed in as you might expect- with republicans reacting coolly and democrats responding with enthusiasm. Republicans were especially critical of the President's proposal to end subsidies for one major Texas industry, as KERA's Matt Laslo reports.
Texas is a leading producer of oil. So President Obama's call for eliminating billions in tax subsidies for oil companies was a shot over the bow for some Texas officials. Obama said the money could better be used to invest in energies that are cleaner or renewable. Republican Congressman Jeb Hensarling of Dallas questioned why Obama singled out oil.
Hensarling: "Well, if he is talking about something that is specific to the energy industry I would take a very serious look at that. Quite often though what he calls a tax break is something that is a break for general businesses throughout America and then he tries to punish individual energy companies."
Hensarling is encouraged the President said he'd refuse to sign bills with earmarks. Republican Senator John Cornyn said he was glad to hear the President talk about reducing federal spending. But for the most part Texas republicans characterized the speech as rhetoric. Cornyn says Obama's call to invest in selected programs will just drive up the deficit.
Cornyn: "We know that's Washington code for more deficit spending and we simply can't afford it. We're broke. Forty cents out of every dollar we spend is borrowed."
Texas Republican Congressman Joe Barton seemed unwilling to believe President Obama wants bipartisanship.
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Barton: "It's one thing to give a speech, it's another thing to change policy. When he starts to reign in the EPA and their attack on Texas, when he starts to help Texas protect its border against the drug thugs and the terrorists down on the Mexican border, then I will believe that he's serious. Until then it's just talk."
Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas , on the other hand, believes President Obama was sincere. She says his vision for investing in education and new technologies will help the economy in North Texas.
Johnson: "He emphasized education. That's what we need. We need an educated work force. We're a high tech area. We have one of the best public school systems in the nation, but it doesn't have enough kids in the programs. We have too much dropping out."
A price tag will be placed on the President's vision next month when he lays out his budget.
For KERA, I'm Matt Laslo in Washington.