The State Of Our Union
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President's speech was more of the same
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In his third State of the Union address last week, the president suggested his willingness to work with Congress on a few pro-economic growth policies, and I will always welcome working with the president and anyone who wants to pursue ideas that will grow the economy and create jobs. However, the majority of the president's speech was just business as usual for this administration and a retread of ideas that have already failed.
Massive spending, tax increases, new additional regulations, and special-interest giveaways -- these are the things that have helped to get us to where we are now -- a weak economy without the kind of job growth that we need.
What we need is for the president to unite Americans -- not divide them - and to focus on opportunities and a growing economy that will create the jobs that we need. With unemployment at more than 8 percent and our nation's debt at more than $15 trillion, we need to work together and pass meaningful solutions. I'm still going to fight for those policies, and I hope the president will come along with us on at least some of them.
Please click on the photo above to watch my video response to the State of the Union.
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Filling Vacant Pennsylvania Judgeships
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 I was honored to participate in the Jan. 20 investiture of Mark Hornak and the installation of Cathy Bissoon as new U.S. District Court judges for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Sen. Bob Casey joined me for these ceremonies in Pittsburgh, and we were pleased to help appoint these qualified judges to the federal bench.
Judge Bissoon, a well-respected federal magistrate judge, has demonstrated a commitment to mentoring young lawyers and encouraging greater diversity in the legal profession.
Judge Hornak has been a careful student of the law throughout his career and has demonstrated an intellectual curiosity and a commitment to integrity, which I know will serve him well on the federal bench.
Sen. Casey and I also participated in the investiture of Robert Mariani Jan. 9 in Scranton, filling a long-vacant spot in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Judge Mariani's diligence, professionalism and knowledge of the law will be an asset to the bench. I believe that his range of experience will enable him to effectively serve the people of Pennsylvania.
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Supporting the Keystone XL Pipeline, Creation of American Energy Jobs
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 I co-sponsored legislation Jan. 30 to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would create thousands of jobs and increase America's energy security.
This bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by 43 other senators, would authorize TransCanada to construct and operate the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. Gulf Coast, transporting an additional 830,000 barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries. The bill would allow the company to move forward with construction of the pipeline in the United States while the state of Nebraska works to determine the most sensible route.
We can't wait for the president to drag his feet on this job-creating project any longer. Instead of focusing on American energy security and putting people back to work, the president has chosen to appease environmental special interests instead.
It's time for Congress to step up and do what the president hasn't -- authorize this pipeline and create tens of thousands of American jobs, increase our access to oil from our friends in Canada, and diminish our dependence on less secure sources of energy.
The Keystone XL pipeline project has been under review for more than three years, but President Obama rejected it last week, saying the 60-day provision included in December's payroll tax cut extension bill didn't give him enough time to review the project. In fact, the Obama administration spent 1,217 days reviewing the pipeline.
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Had Enough? Tell me your story.
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 Through my Had Enough? public service campaign, I'm asking you to tell me your experiences with unreasonable red tape, government excess and overregulation. I want to hear how federal agencies have not worked for you and how we in Washington can improve and streamline government. This isn't about disparaging government - it's about helping you, finding solutions, and making the federal government work more effectively for Pennsylvanians.
So if you've Had Enough?, let me hear from you -- please click here to share your experiences with me. I want to hear if a new federal regulation is preventing an employer from expanding and investing in your community; if the federal government is imposing an unfunded mandate on your town; or if new agency rules and regulations are impeding your livelihood.
I look forward to hearing how the federal government can work better for you.
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I was honored to participate in the Jan. 20 investiture of Mark Hornak and the installation of Cathy Bissoon as new U.S. District Court judges for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Sen. Bob Casey joined me for these ceremonies in Pittsburgh, and we were pleased to help appoint these qualified judges to the federal bench.
I co-sponsored legislation Jan. 30 to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would create thousands of jobs and increase America's energy security. 
Through my 
