Local leaders react to State of the Union
Morris County’s Republican congressmen reacted quickly to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address, criticizing the president on different points of the goals he outlined for the remainder of his term.
Another Republican with ties to Morris County reacted even sooner as former Parsippany Councilman Thomas Russo Jr. participated in a post-speech discussion panel on the Fox News Channel.
U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-Harding), who represents the majority of Morris County in Washington, criticized what he termed as a missed opportunity for the president to explain how he would rally bipartisan support for his objectives.
“Tonight, the president outlined his plans for the year. Unfortunately, he missed a chance to tell the American people how he will work cooperatively with Republicans to advance solutions that increase opportunities for all — with more jobs, better wages and lower health care and energy costs,” Frelinghuysen wrote in a statement released late Tuesday night. “And, I was deeply disappointed that the nation did not hear more about the concrete steps the president will propose to address the three greatest threats to America today: radical Islamic terrorism, cyber-sabotage and runaway debt.”
U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) tempered his comments, but also expressed his disappointment.
“While many of his proposals are misguided and will not pass in Congress, I believe there are a number of issues where we can find common ground and make real progress,” said Lance, whose Seventh District includes 11 towns in western Morris. “Fixing our tax code, promoting trade, increasing affordable American-made energy and improving education opportunities for all. I hope the president will work with Congress on advancing these bills and other bipartisan initiatives that are supported by the American people.”
Democrats ‘encouraged’
Elected Democrats are a rare breed in Morris County, but Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D-27th), who represents Chatham Township, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding and Madison in Trenton, backed the president’s goals.
“In his speech, the president reiterated his commitment to middle-class economics, reminding us that the foundation of this nation is our conviction that all with the will to succeed should have the opportunity to do so,” McKeon told the Daily Record Wednesday. “But we have work to do in some other areas. While our state has led the way in preserving open space, we still cannot adequately address the danger that is climate change, which the president noted threatens national security. And while the president has made rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure a priority, we have yet been able to come up with a long-term plan for the Transportation Trust Fund.”
Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, who also represents the 27th, said she was “encouraged” by Obama’s address.
“Perhaps the most important idea of the night was the notion that building a better nation must be a bipartisan effort, and the same can be said of our endeavor to move New Jersey forward,” Jasey said Wednesday. “When the president spoke of equal pay and child care and increasing the minimum wage, he spoke with a recognition that the wellness of women and children and working people cannot be relegated to a single party if we intend to reach our nation’s full potential. Likewise, anyone and everyone ready to bring change to this state must see past what divides us and realize that bipartisan cooperation is an integral part of the process.”
Russo on Fox News
Russo, a Parsippany councilman from 1998 to 2005 and now a councilman in Bernards, was chosen to join about two dozen bipartisan voices assembled for a special post-address edition of “The Kelly File” hosted Tuesday night by Megyn Kelly on the Fox News Channel.
Russo was among two dozen people recruited for an in-studio Fox News panel convened by pollster Frank Luntz to discuss Obama’s speech. But he almost didn’t make it when his bus from Parsippany got stuck in traffic.
“I allowed myself two hours and 45 minutes to get into the city and there was a backup in the tunnel,” he said. “I called them to save a seat for me and told them I would swim the Hudson if I had to to get there.”
Russo, also the town manager for Newton, said he was contacted in advance about appearing on Fox News and filled out a questionnaire.
“But I had no idea it was for the State of the Union,” he said.
He ran from the Port Authority to the Fox Studios in Manhattan and got there just in time for preproduction, which included seating based on political affiliation.
“I was sitting the whole time between two rather liberal females,” he said. “It was all in fun.”
The panelists were polled for a one-word review of Obama’s address. Russo chose “pedantic.”
“Look it up,” he said. “It means unimaginative and dull, which I thought it was. So did some of the Obama supporters. But the last 15 minutes, I actually liked that, he was more emotional and passionate.”
Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailtrecord.com.