WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday night that President Bush came up short in his State of the Union address.
The two Democratic leaders said in a news release that while they agree with the Republican president that a bipartisan effort in facing the nation's "most pressing challenges."
"Yet tonight, the president offered little more than the status quo," they said. "At a time when our economy is on shaky ground and our leadership around the world is eroding, the status quo won't do."
Reid and Pelosi said that while Bush repeatedly asked Congress to trust the American people, the people must be able to trust the president "will work to change course in Iraq so we can more effectively fight terrorism around the world and rebuild our mighty military."
They also called for leadership in providing sound education, fair wages, decent housing, affordable healthcare and in reducing U.S. dependence on oil.
