Congressman Adam Kinzinger's One Word Statement on President Obama's Keystone Decision: "Crazy"

Will County News received the following press from the office of Congressman Adam Kinzinger:

"Congressman Kinzinger Reacts to President Obama's Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline

WASHINGTON – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s formal rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline:

“Crazy.”

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Kinzinger represents the 16th Congressional District of Illinois:

Illinois 16th Congressional District 

Kinzinger Response to President's State of the Union Address 2013

Illinois 16th Congressional Congressman Adam Kinzinger has released the following response to President Obama's State of the Union Address:


“Tonight, Americans heard more of the same from President Obama which is disheartening news for our economy – and our country. Tonight was a major opportunity for the President to call Republicans and Democrats together to say both sides must work together to find common ground in order to solve the huge problems facing this country for future generations.

“That's something that was sorely missing here tonight; the discussion of what will happen to the next generation of Americans. And, unfortunately, President Obama once again descended back into more partisan rhetoric that only divides the nation rather than unites our country to conquer our spending addiction and gets us back on the path toward prosperity.

“As we head into the 113th Congress, our government’s problems are clear: we must quit spending more money than we take in; we must focus our efforts toward growing the private sector, where jobs are created; and Washington must pass a budget and get serious about comprehensive tax reform.

“As I’ve said before, in the coming months, the Senate and White House must work with the House to tackle serious fiscal reforms including the sequester and the debt ceiling. The American people chose a divided government in Washington and they’re counting on us to work together.

“One thing I wanted to hear in tonight’s address was how our leaders planned to look after our youth. The decisions from economic and budgetary to national defense and foreign affairs are going to have a direct impact on future generations.

“It’s crucial that our youth understand that decisions made today will impact the world that they must govern tomorrow. We simply cannot force more than $53,000 in debt onto the backs of these younger generations. We as a nation must recognize that a weak economy will lead to weak nation security.

“Earlier we learned that in defiance of international warnings and sanctions, the North Korean regime has conducted a nuclear weapons test. This is the third nuclear weapon test since 2006, and the first test since the KimJong-un took power.

“In the strongest terms I condemn the recent nuclear test by the North Korean regime. Time and time again we have asked China to apply the necessary pressure to put an end to this dangerous and threatening path. The President has a responsibility to partner with our friends in South Korea and China to develop a strategy that will lead to a cessation of these nuclear tests. Weapons grade uranium is much easier to proliferate and serves as a direct threat to the U.S. and our allies. The United States cannot be blind to the threats facing us.

“The President’s proposed defense cuts would debilitate our military and make it extremely difficult to respond to such threats in 5 or 10 years. I have been and continue to be willing to work with my colleagues from both parties to find a solution to our budget crisis that will put us on a long term path to solvency and strengthen our national security – the future our country depends on it.”

Kinzinger Response to State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), tonight issued the following remarks in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address: 

“Tonight, folks around the country turned their focus to Washington and looked to the Leader of the Free World for direction.  However, rather than laying out a blueprint for our nation’s future, President Obama took advantage of an opportunity to advance his own re-election agenda.  The president offered more of his same failed policies - higher taxes, more spending and onerous regulations; which has lead to record-high unemployment rates, mounting debt and an overreaching government.

“These policies have hurt our economy and it’s time to hold Washington accountable for its actions. 

“Under the Obama Administration, our national debt has increased by $4.6 trillion – which means every man, woman and child’s share has increased by nearly $14,000 since Obama took office. 

“In his 2011 State of the Union speech, President Obama warned that ‘at stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else.’  This is a fear I hear nearly every day in Illinois.  That’s why I was deeply disappointed to see the President's Administration block the Keystone XL Pipeline - particularly after his own jobs council yesterday called for an 'all-in approach' to energy policy that incorporates expanded oil and gas drilling in addition to advancing energy projects such as pipelines.

“This pipeline would directly create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs and 118,000 total jobs. In addition, we would see 830,000 barrels of safe and secure oil each day from our friends to the North, which means we will need less oil from countries we can no longer rely on and are not friendly to the interests of the United States.

“Unfortunately, like tonight’s State of the Union address, the Keystone pipeline is a missed opportunity and is yet another major example of the President placing politics before the people. The fact is that someone will benefit from the oil out of Alberta.  If it’s not the United States, it will be China - and it will be American businesses and consumers who will suffer the consequences from our inaction.

“We can’t continue to follow the same failed agenda that has driven job creators further into doubt and uncertainty.  The road to refueling our economy and creating jobs means tackling our debt head on, simplifying the tax code, reducing onerous regulations, and increasing domestic energy production, making our nation more energy secure, which would help lower costs at the pump and create jobs here at home.

“In just one year, the new House Republicans have fought to put the brakes on the Obama Administration’s spending spree.  We’ve changed the conversation from how much to spend to how much to cut.

“We've also made clear to the president that it is high time that we cut up the government's credit cards and draw a hard line to stop the government from overspending, which is hampering our economy's ability to grow and thrive. We must get the government to stop spending more money than we take in and focus our efforts toward growing the private sector, where jobs are created.”