Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union speech delivered this evening. Simpson agrees that political rhetoric should become more civil and that our country must become energy independent, and he strongly believes that unnecessary strict federal regulations impact job growth.

“The top issues for all Americans are the national deficit and the economy, and I am glad to hear the President say he is committed to creating jobs. If we really want to eliminate the national debt, we need to get spending under control and get our economy going again. I am concerned, however, that his Administration’s actions don’t always match up with his sound bites, particularly when it comes to the regulatory agenda that the EPA and other agencies have been advancing under his watch. One thing businesses need to succeed is certainty, and the rate at which the Obama Administration has issued new regulations has created an atmosphere of uncertainty among job creators in America. Company after company, big and small, has told me how they are sitting on capital rather than creating jobs or investing in the growth of their businesses because they don’t know how government regulations are going to affect them. 

“I was particularly interested in the President’s call for clean energy sources. Our economic and national security depend on our nation becoming energy independent, but for too long, neither Congress nor the President have been serious about this goal. I applaud the President’s recognition that we can’t expect to achieve energy independence without embracing every opportunity available, especially nuclear power. I am convinced that we can never meet clean energy goals like the one the President laid out tonight if we don't experience a nuclear renaissance, and Idaho is poised to help lead the nation in this effort.  If we are serious about becoming energy independent, we need to enact policies that don’t pick political winners and losers but look at all of our options.”