Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Jim Risch issued the following statement after the president’s State of the Union address.

"Tonight's speech was different than President Obama's previous three versions with him now clearly switching to campaign mode. He talked about the exceptionalism of the American people and how they are the key to our country's greatness. I agree, and I also agree with many of the ideas he set forth in his speech. Unfortunately, his words tonight did not match the policies he has put forth over the past three years when we have seen record debt, unemployment and layers of new regulation.

"We do need to reform our tax structure, but we must work together to make it happen. We need to repeal regulations that stifle businesses from expanding and hiring. We need to get our fiscal house in order and reduce our $15-trillion debt. We must accept the fact that it is the private sector that creates jobs, not the government. Reducing spending and removing job-crushing regulations will provide the stability to encourage the private sector to create more jobs."

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