I want to highlight Senator Landrieu's response. It's a very concise and biting response, yet remarkable in its civility. Perhaps all the interest groups in Washington, and the GOP echo chamber that likes to smear their opposition can learn a thing or two ...
" ... tonight is a night for setting priorities, and several important ones were left out.
By the way, where's Kennedy's response? I haven't even heard from the man since he sent out the mailer telling us all why he was running for the Senate. Just so y'all know ... he lied. He's running because Karl Rove and Co. convinced him to.
"I will continue to fight for a commitment from the President to become a stronger partner in our recovery this year by cutting through the red tape that has slowed our progress. We need to ensure that Road Home Grants are not taxed, and I will fight to include a fix in the economic stimulus package. The President tonight warned against 'loading up' the stimulus package, but preventing the Federal Government from taxing our rebuilding is precisely the stimulus the Gulf Coast requires.
"We need to move past partisan division and quickly pass the Farm Bill to give our 200,000 Louisiana farmers assurance that we will reauthorize, improve, and reform critical farm programs through 2012.
"We need to stop delay and start turning dirt for 100-year hurricane protection for the New Orleans region, which requires $7.3 billion the President has already identified. We need to include these funds in the upcoming supplemental and must make sure the cost-share is not too onerous on Louisiana.
"I hope that 2008 can be a year that we can invest in our school system to protect our children's future. I agree with the President that we need to reauthorize and fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act, which I was proud to help craft as part of a bipartisan coalition six years ago. But we do not need the approach the President called for tonight. Rather, we must provide children with quality choices in a quality public school system. We must strengthen the public school system by supporting innovation and improving neighborhood schools.
"The President also emphasized the importance of keeping our children safe and healthy, but he continues to veto essential health insurance programs for them. I will continue the fight to provide health insurance for the 4 million otherwise uninsured low-income children.
"The President expressed tonight a common hope of finding bipartisan paths forward. I agree. We campaign as Democrats and Republicans, but we serve as Americans. We must fight together to provide our working families with the economic security and prosperity they deserve."
