Solano County's congressmen pleased with Obama's speech

In an attempt to meet a fractured economy head-on and make the needed adjustments to get it back on track, President Barack Obama on Tuesday emphasized in his State of the Union address the importance seeing beyond political differences and challenged Congress to take the steps necessary to bridge the gap. Area representatives are taking a stance firmly behind him. "President Obama gave a very strong and optimistic speech about our country, but made equally strong challenge to Congress to stop blocking efforts to rebuild the middle class and move America forward," said U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Solano, regarding the president's third address on the country's state of affairs since being elected in 2008. "I give this speech and its message to all Americans very high marks." Fellow Congressman John Garamendi, D-Solano, was in agreement when reached by phone following the address, calling it "excellent." He credited Obama's emphasis on job creation and rebuilding the middle class through maintaining and strengthening infrastructure, renewable energy, pushing for fairness in tax policy and maintaining the country's military strength. Garamendi said he was "pleasantly surprised" with the way Obama ended his address, reminding his audience of the country's greatness as a nation. "The destiny of America is ahead of us if we can work together," he said. Garamendi added that the changes Obama called for are within our reach as a country if partisanism can be put aside and "If Republicans can work with Democrats and vice versa."