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Doherty ‘encouraged’ by Obama’s State of the Union speech

WPRI.COM

Ted Nesi

Updated: Jan 27, 2012 1:12 PM

Republican congressional candidate Brendan Doherty says he hopes President Obama follows his State of the Union speech with a bipartisan approach on issues like an overhaul of the federal tax code.

While many Republicans blasted the president’s address as a campaign speech, Doherty took a softer approach, saying he was “encouraged” by what the president had to say and hopes to see more cooperation and bipartisanship in Washington.

Doherty has endorsed Mitt Romney for president. Here’s the full statement he gave in response to a question from WPRI.com:

I was encouraged that President Obama chose to address the challenges facing middle class Americans in his State of the Union speech. I have always believed that actions speak louder than words and I hope that this administration now will shift its focus away from handouts to Wall Street and big corporations and instead promote a strong economy and secure jobs for the people of Rhode Island and our entire nation. We need comprehensive tax reform that closes loopholes for big business and levels the playing field for small business and the middle class. This will not be easy and will require leadership and bipartisan cooperation that goes far beyond seating arrangements and the rhetoric of class warfare. Like many Rhode Islanders, I am frustrated by constant partisan bickering and I am committed to bringing true leadership and a spirit of cooperation to Washington, DC and to restoring integrity and accountability to Congress.

Cicilline’s statement, which isn’t on his website, blamed the House Republican leadership for blocking the president’s proposals, but other than that didn’t sound markedly different from Doherty’s. Both called for changes to the tax code that would likely increase how much large businesses owe the federal government.

“Rhode Islanders want Congress to move beyond ideological differences to get things done for our country,” Cicilline said Tuesday night. ”Let’s put aside partisanship and send the president bills like these that will advance not just the interests of Democrats or Republicans, but of every American family.”

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