U.S. Chamber’s Donohue Comments on the State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address:

“The president’s return to a focus on jobs and growth is overdue and we welcome his call for immigration reform and trade expansion. The question is whether the totality of his agenda is designed to grow our economy or simply to grow the government. More spending, higher taxes, and massive federal rule-making will not put Americans back to work or stop the slide of middle-class incomes. To revive our economy, restore confidence, and put millions of unemployed Americans back to work, jobs and growth cannot be an occasional priority, it must be the top priority at all times.

“The American business community can help deliver more middle class jobs and bigger paychecks if the government reduces deficits and regulations, reforms taxes and entitlements, and works aggressively with our companies to expand domestic energy and global trade.

“Creating jobs and growing our economy have been and remain top priorities for American business. Early this year, the Chamber put forth its American Jobs and Growth Agenda, a plan to generate stronger, more robust economic growth, create jobs, and expand opportunity for all Americans. Economic growth alone can’t solve all our problems, but without growth, we won’t be able to solve any of them.

“We look forward to working with those who share this desire to restore economic growth and vitality to our great nation.”