JULIE PACE and ZEKE MILLER, of the Associated Press, contributed to this story
WASHINGTON – Reaction to President Donald Trump‘s first State of the Union address Tuesday broke down along party lines among Ohio politicians though they expressed appreciation that the president addressed some of the issues they consider important to the state, such as the opioid crisis, infrastructure and workforce development.
I am hopeful about POTUS' message re: the #opioidepidemic. This is a crisis in #Ohio & around the country. We must do more to keep drugs out of the U.S. & get people the help they need. #SOTU https://t.co/tOH99MQZeA
— Rob Portman (@robportmanOH) January 31, 2018
“While there are many areas where I disagree with President Trump, I am always willing to work for him when it’s right for Ohio. I hope Republicans and Democrats will follow tonight’s speech with action and come together to rebuild our infrastructure, tackle the opioid epidemic, crack down on trade cheats, and keep the President’s promises to American workers” –Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Addressing a deeply divided nation, President Donald Trump summoned the country to a “new American moment” of unity, challenging Congress to make good on long-standing promises to fix a fractured immigration system and warning darkly of evil forces seeking to undermine America’s way of life.
Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty of Columbus says the president and congressional Republicans need to walk the unity walk, not just talk the talk:
“President Trump opened his address by talking about ‘bonds of trust’ and ensuring all Americans have the opportunity to live the American Dream. However, making progress in these areas requires more than words, it takes action and strong leadership. The president read through a string of issues weaved through his scripted speech but failed to even acknowledge the many hurtful, divisive, bigoted and offensive statements he has hurled at countless Americans of all backgrounds.”
Trump’s address blended self-congratulation and calls for optimism amid a growing economy with ominous warnings about deadly gangs, the scourge of drugs and violent immigrants living in the United States illegally.
He also spoke forebodingly of catastrophic dangers from abroad, warning that North Korea would “very soon” threaten the United States with nuclear-tipped missiles.
Among potential agenda items for 2018, he included a call for $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure spending and partnerships with states and the private sector.
Trump addressed the nation with tensions running high on Capitol Hill. An impasse over immigration prompted a three-day government shutdown earlier this year, and lawmakers appear no closer to resolving the status of the “Dreamers” — young people living in the U.S. illegally ahead of a new Feb. 8 deadline for funding operations.
“Much of the President’s vision for future action opens the door to real bipartisan solutions if Sherrod Brown and his Democrat colleagues are willing to abandon their failed strategy of obstruction and put Americans first. Securing our border, tackling the opioid crisis, and rebuilding our depleted military and crumbling infrastructure are not political battles, they are actions we must take together to ensure the safety of all Americans.” –Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken
The president redoubled his recent pledge to offer a path to citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants — but only as part of a package that would also require increased funding for border security, including a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, ending the nation’s visa lottery method and revamping the current legal immigration system.
The parties have also clashed this week over the plans of Republicans on the House intelligence committee to release a classified memo on the Russia investigation involving Trump’s presidential campaign — a decision the White House backs but the Justice Department is fighting.