Louisiana's delegates to Congress had also hoped for mention of the need to put drillers back to work
Louisiana's congressional delegation was disappointed that President Barack Obama failed to mention in his State of the Union Tuesday the Gulf oil spill, coastal restoration and, especially in the context of the president's jobs agenda, the need to put Louisianans back to work drilling for oil in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
View full sizeBartender Cristina Scurov watches a telecast of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in a daiquiri bar in the French Quarter on Tuesday. "In Louisiana, one of the most decisive steps we can take to put people back to work is to start again issuing permits for deepwater oil and gas drilling," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.
But the only mention of drilling in the president's 6,800-word address came in the context of the president's tribute to American ingenuity in the person of Brandon Fisher, the founder of a company in Berlin, Pa., that specializes in a new kind of drilling technology that was used in rescuing the Chilean miners.
Alternative energy
His only mention of energy issues was to press Congress to promote alternative energy sources, paid for by eliminating billions in tax breaks for oil companies.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but they're doing just fine on their own," said the president. "So instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's."
For Louisiana lawmakers, the president missed an obvious opportunity to pursue his jobs agenda by getting deepwater drillers in the Gulf of Mexico back in business.
"If the president is serious about jump-starting the economy and putting America back to work, taking immediate action to revive deepwater oil and gas drilling is an excellent place to start," said Landrieu, expressing a view shared by the rest of the delegation.
But Landrieu, who chairs the Senate Small Business Committee, said she was pleased by the president's frequent mention of the importance of small business and entrepreneurship in getting the economy moving, and his emphasis on job creation and deficit reduction.
But Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, suggested that the president's rhetoric on fiscal discipline, which included a call for a five-year freeze on domestic spending, was a ruse.
"We've heard this speech before, but unfortunately it's always been followed up by contradictory big-government, anti-small business actions that continue to hold our economy back," Scalise said.
Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said that on a bipartisan basis, members seem focused on solutions and "looking for more than just symbols and nice speeches."
"Of all the State of the Union addresses I've been honored to attend, I'd say the reaction to the president's speech was the most muted by far," Vitter said.
"The president made a great speech, as he always does, but the American people understand the difference between words and action," said Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia.
Unlike all the other members of the Louisiana delegation -- save Rep. Cedric Richmond, the freshman Democrat from New Orleans -- Landrieu lauded the president for indicating "the need to stay the course on health care reform."
"I strongly agree with the president that repealing the entirety of the health care reform law is not an option," said Landrieu. "While the health care reform law is not perfect, it does provide critical protections for Louisiana residents."
Obama slyly noted the new Republican House's rush to repeal his landmark achievement, noting that he had "heard rumors that a few of you have some concerns about the new health care law. So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved."
Richmond supports earmarks
But for Republicans, the legislation is hopelessly flawed and has to go. Last week, the House voted for repeal, and on Tuesday, Vitter, R-La., announced he will re-introduce his legislation for full repeal.
The president also promised to veto any bill that "comes to my desk with earmarks inside." In the past, the ability of lawmakers to direct funding to their home states and districts has been an important conduit for federal spending in Louisiana, and the only way Army Corps of Engineers projects, so vital to the state, were prioritized.
Richmond, who supports "congressionally directed spending," as earmarks are called, as critical to New Orleans' recovery after Hurricane Katrina, said the president's position reflected an admirable desire to reach across partisan and ideological lines.
"I thought he did a great job once again of taking the high road and remind members of Congress and America what's at stake if we don't come together," Richmond said.
Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.383.7827.