CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire’s Democratic congressional delegation had little good to say about Republican President Donald Trump’s first speech to Congress.
U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter accused Trump of speaking “falsely” when he said the nation is in its worst financial recovery 65 years. And while she welcomed some of his economic priorities, such as investing in infrastructure, she said weeks have passed with “zero action on these priorities.”
“There is no better example of words without action than his Affordable Care Act rhetoric, which is being confronted with the reality that tens of thousands in New Hampshire now have access to care,” she said in a statement. “Our health care system has changed for the better, and the people of this nation have said loud and clear: we’re not going back.”
U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan said the speech showed Trump will “never acknowledge the true dangers of his agenda.” She said she was disappointed he used the address to “double down on backward policies” that would harm efforts to combat opioid addiction in the state, take away health insurance coverage and make budget cuts that hurt the state’s middle class.
“While I remain willing to work with the Trump Administration when they are willing to be constructive on priorities that will drive our economy forward and keep our nation safe, it is troubling that President Trump is more focused on a partisan, anti-middle class agenda that would pull our country and economy backward,” she said in a statement.
The criticism was in stark contrast to comments from Republicans, who praised Trump’s disciplined and optimistic tone. Many were relieved following weeks in which Trump produced a flurry of executive orders but has yet to take on the legislative battles over tax reform and health care.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen also said she is committed to working with Trump but was concerned “that the President passed up another opportunity to send a truly unifying message to the American people.”
“It’s disheartening to again hear him advocate for his un-American Muslim ban executive order and malign immigrants who continue to enrich the fabric of our nation,” she said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. Ann Kuster, also a Democrat, expressed a desire to work with Trump and said he hopes “he now moves away from the politics of division that have been a hallmark of his campaign and time in office.”
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