Washington D.C. – Ahead of tonight’s State of the Union Address to Congress, U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) released a statement calling on President Obama to utilize tonight’s address to show leadership on the most pressing issues facing our nation. He specifically mentions the President's sequestration measure which is set to go into effect at the start of next month and would have a potentially serious impact on Middle Georgia:

“The citizens of this country need reassurance that better days are indeed ahead. The President has an opportunity to do that by showing leadership tonight on the economy and fiscal issues. But, for the fourth time in five years, the President is late delivering his Budget to the American people and Congress. In fact, the Federal government has not had a Budget for nearly four years. His refusal to lead on fiscal issues is why we are less than a month away from the President’s sequestration going into effect. His sequestration threatens the livelihoods of millions of Americans and the jobs that they go to everyday – specifically at Robins Air Force Base. This is the President’s measure, and it is incumbent upon him to take the lead to undo it.

“I join the American people in the hope that the President, in his address tonight, will deal with the issues that he has long neglected.” 

Background: Rep. Scott did not vote for the Budget Control Act of 2011, the original legislation that included the President’s sequester. On two occasions since, the House passed H.R. 3662 and H.R. 5652, that would repeal the sequester.  Neither of those bills were brought up for a vote in the Senate. 

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