Voices

“The strength of America is not in Washington.”

--Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.)

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“The president took a good first step toward cooperation. Words are nice. We’re waiting for the deeds.”

--Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.)

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“I expect Wall Street will like the speech because of the priority the president places on balancing the budget, and Main Street will like it because of the practical solutions he’s proposing to the everyday needs of working families.”

--Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.)

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“I am very pleased that President Clinton has so heartily endorsed the Republican agenda. ... The president has proven time and again that he can talk the talk. The question tonight is: Can he walk the walk?”

--House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas)

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“President Clinton presented ... a clearly defined agenda for working families.”

--House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.)

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“I agree with him that we should finish the difficult job of balancing the federal budget, and I am optimistic that we can do so ... At the same time, I am glad the president made the case against a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.”

--Rep. Martin Olav Sabo (D-Minn.)

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“The president is also right to offer American families much-needed tax relief, but I am skeptical of his one-shot tax cuts that simply shift the burden from one area of the budget to another, setting the stage for future tax hikes.”

--Rep. Michael P. Forbes (R-N.Y.)

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“Regardless of which goals we want to prioritize, if we can’t get to the point where we have a bipartisan approach, then we’re not going to get anything done.”

--Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.)