Republicans from Missouri applaud address

WASHINGTON -- Members of Missouri's mostly Republican delegation applauded what they heard Tuesday from President Bush, particularly his words about fighting terrorism, improving the economy and expanding health insurance.

Republican Sen. Jim Talent embraced the president's desire to expand health insurance to more small business workers by allowing companies to pool together to offer corporate-style coverage.

"The good news is, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Congress to produce a package that will help people with health insurance premiums," said Talent, a freshman senator. "I'm as optimistic as I've ever been that we'll really be able to lower people's health insurance premiums."

Missourians account for half a million of the nation's 40 million uninsured, Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said.

"Too many Missourians of all ages and at most levels of income lack the security of health insurance. The problem affects our entire health-care system," said Emerson, who has been a leader on prescription drug legislation.

Republican Sen. Kit Bond, a Senate Intelligence Committee member, said Bush did a good job of outlining challenges facing the nation, particularly in fighting terrorism.

"There was good news about the program that's going on in Iraq," Bond said. "It's obviously no longer the same government, and Saddam himself is gone, and we now have No. 54 in a coalition deck of 55 cards. But getting the country on its feet is still a challenge."

"But dealing with other nations harboring terrorism I think will be easier, as Moammar Gadhafi showed in Libya. He doesn't want to wind up in a spider hole like Saddam."

Bond said the nation has made good progress pulling out of recession, "but still we don't have all the jobs we need for everybody who wants one." He pledged to work with Bush to emphasize job training.

The top House Armed Services Committee Democrat, Rep. Ike Skelton, was dissatisfied with Bush's discussion of Iraq and the war on terrorism. Bush mentioned North Korea and Iran as well as Iraq when he outlined the "axis of evil" two years ago, Skelton said.

"But what is the situation regarding North Korea's nuclear program?" Skelton said. "There was a requirement to have a national security strategy spelled out and sent to the Congress that was some four months overdue. How does the president define our strategic priorities since the war on Iraq?"

Skelton, who represents central and western Missouri, said Bush ought to recognize there are two separate, complex military campaigns going on right now -- the response to Sept. 11, 2001, and guerrilla warfare in Iraq.

"These are two separate and distinct wars, terrorism and guerrilla, and the military answer is different in each case and cannot be fuzzed together," Skelton said.

And he called on Bush to support an increase in the size of the armed forces. "They are stretched. They are stressed," said Skelton, who has called since 1995 for an increase of about 40,000 troops for the Army.

Democratic Rep. William Lacy Clay praised some Bush ideas on education, including increasing Pell grants, focusing on math and science and giving more aid to community colleges for job training.

But he criticized Bush over the war in Iraq, pointing out that the president did not mention a plan for pulling out U.S. troops.

"He talked about establishing a democratic form of government there. Hopefully that will stay on track, but I don't see us pulling troops out; he didn't mention it," Clay said. "He really has no plan to ensure a stable, democratic Iraq."

And Clay said Bush was disingenuous for promising fiscal responsibility when, despite balancing the federal budget from 1998 through 2001, the Republican-controlled Congress is responsible for the biggest federal spending increase in a decade.

Bush's speech came one night after the Iowa caucuses ended the political career of another Missouri Democrat, Rep. Dick Gephardt of St. Louis. Gephardt finished fourth, then abandoned his campaign for the White House Tuesday afternoon.

The top-ranking Missouri House Republican, Majority Whip Roy Blunt, referred to the Democratic slugfest as a difference from Bush's posture.

"President Bush's leadership and positive vision for America stand in marked contrast to the current political mudslinging by the men who hope to win his job," said Blunt, who is from southwest Missouri. "Tonight's speech was a look back at where we've been as a country -- the unprecedented challenges and great successes -- and where we are headed. After three years of historic accomplishments, the future looks bright."

Republican Rep. Todd Akin agreed that the president struck a note of confidence and hope.

"I've been in Iraq, and there are many people there who no longer fear the knock at the door. After 35 years of tyranny, there are people who are getting their first taste of freedom," said Akin, a St. Louis-area lawmaker who serves with Skelton on the House Armed Services Committee. "It's not just Iraq. You're seeing the effects of very forthright, positive leadership in relation to other countries, like Libya."

Republican Rep. Kenny Hulshof applauded Bush's call for making his tax cuts permanent and said he would re-introduce legislation Wednesday to make that happen. Under Senate budget rules, most the tax cuts expire in 2011, although some expire earlier.

"Next year, the family friendly tax relief, the special child tax credit, reverts to a $500-per-child credit," said Hulshof, who serves on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. "If Congress fails to act, that's real dollars in a family's budget. Not only that, but it's becoming more and more difficult for businesses to plan ahead."

Hulshof said the economy is beginning to show signs of long-term prosperity and argued that according to mainstream economists, tax cuts and business investment are responsible.

"Businesses like to have certainty as they look ahead," the northeast Missouri lawmaker said. "There is no certainty right now."

Republican Rep. Sam Graves said the tax deductions for business investment would lead to jobs, and that expanding businesses might help explain why job creation has not grown as have productivity, consumer confidence, housing and the stock market.

"They're expanding their potential, and that's going to translate into jobs, but obviously it takes a little time to build on," said Graves, who represents northwest Missouri.

Kansas City's congresswoman, retiring Rep. Karen McCarthy, issued a brief statement about the address.

"The state of our union requires job security, economic security and homeland security," McCarthy said. "We must enact bipartisan solutions, through job creation programs, investment in local infrastructure and policies to equip first responders with the resources they need to protect our communities."