Washington, DC – Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement after attending President Obama’s final State of the Union Address:

“For eight years, I have sat in the House chamber for each of President Obama’s State of the Union addresses — listening to thousands of words and hearing countless well-crafted applause lines. But one thing remains the same: he thinks government comes first and the American people second.

“The American people have a choice in 2016. It’s a choice between two futures: President Obama’s legacy — cemented in status-quo, one-size-fits-all policies — or a future driven by families, students, small businesses, and seniors in every corner of America who each have their individual power restored to pursue their own dreams.

In the People’s House, Republicans are starting to build an agenda that’s for every American — produced by the their representatives. Ours is an agenda build from the bottom up, not from some place ‘on high.’ Our agenda will help us reach a future where people aren’t limited where they finish, because of where they start. This agenda is one that will make people’s lives brighter.”