Murray Statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

“Tonight
we heard a strong vision from President Obama for getting our economy back on
track, getting our workers back on the job, and laying down a strong foundation
for our country to continue leading the way in the 21^st century
economy. I believe that this vision is exactly what Washington state families
need, and I am going to continue working with the President and my colleagues
in Congress to enact it.

“I
have heard from so many families and small business owners across Washington
state who continue to struggle. While we certainly need to tackle the deficit
and cut spending, I am not going to allow that to happen on the backs of
Washington state students, veterans, and future growth.

“The
importance of investing in Washington state’s future cannot be overstated. From
the Columbia River Crossing in Southwest Washington, to the North-South Freeway
in Spokane, to the Mercer Street mess and mass transit throughout Seattle—we
can’t stop making the investments we need to continue innovating and continue
competing.

“And
as President Obama said tonight, we need to make sure that Washington state
workers are getting the support they need not just to get back to work, but
also to build the economy of the future.  We must maintain our competitive
edge by investing in our students, our workers, and the innovation that will
pave a strong foundation for long-term economic growth.  And we need to
make sure the jobs and innovation of the future—like Washington state’s
aerospace industry—continues to thrive and that they stay right here in the
United States.

“So I am not going to stop fighting for the
local investments in Washington state that will keep our economy growing and
will get workers back on the job. And I look forward to working with anyone who
is interested in making sure America continues to lead the way in the 21^st
century economy.”