Area Congressman Responds to Obama's State of the Union

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) issued the following statement this evening in response to the president’s State of the Union: “I’m astonished that the president would call for an economy built on American manufacturing and energy and an all-of-the-above energy strategy – a Republican initiative – since his actions have never matched such rhetoric. “Less than one week ago, the White House denied a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would create American jobs and energy. Time and again the House has moved bills to eliminate the administration’s bureaucratic delays that continue to stall American energy production. “The president had an opportunity to advance this shovel-ready jobs and energy project. But in a trademark Obama political decision, his administration prolonged the process with job-destroying regulations and bureaucratic betrayals. “Gas prices have jumped $1.50 per gallon since the president took office. This means that Americans are paying an extra $30 for 20 gallons of fuel because the president has failed to enact a meaningful national energy policy. “If the president were sincere about creating jobs and increasing energy production, he would remove the excessive federal regulations stinging manufacturers and would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline. “Let’s promote entrepreneurship, not penalize the principle.”

A Republican representing the Third District of Mississippi, Gregg Harper serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Ethics.