GOP Leaders React To President Obama's SOTU Address

On Tuesday night following President Obama’s State of the Union speech, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) delivered the official GOP response, calling on congress to “reclaim our American system of limited government.”

Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, reiterated Republican’s agenda to maintain lower taxes, decrease the deficit, and replace the health care reform bill with “[a more] fiscally responsible, patient-centered reform.” 

“Health care spending is driving explosive growth of our debt.” Ryan said, “The President’s law is accelerating our country toward bankruptcy.”

Although Ryan was tapped to give the official GOP rebuttal, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) also gave a prepared response. Bachmann’s reaction focused on “no tax increases,” “making sure Congress is not spending more than it’s taking in,” and the necessity of “acting within the bounds of the Constitution.” 

According to CNN, Bachmann stated she is “not in competition with Paul Ryan.”