WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement tonight in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“I expect the president’s speech will receive praise from political pundits, but a good speech must be supported by action. We need more than a change in tone; we need a change in policy.

“President Obama and Congress have dramatically increased federal spending under the guise of growing the economy, but 14 million Americans continue to struggle to find jobs. The president talked a lot tonight about ‘making investments,’ but call it what you will, this means more spending. We’ve had over $1 trillion annual deficits each year for the past two years, and our national debt exceeds $14 trillion. It’s pretty clear spending our way to prosperity is not working. We must control spending, and we must create an environment where businesses can invest, grow and put people back to work.

“I believe there are many areas where the president and Congress can work together to lead the country through these difficult times for the benefit and well-being of our kids and grandkids.

"I’m ready to work with the president and my colleagues to tackle our convoluted tax code, replace the burdensome health care reform law, open up foreign markets to U.S. exports, and decrease the federal regulations that are stifling America’s economic recovery.”