Reacting to President Barack Obama’s joint address Tuesday to Congress, U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas and Sen. Jim Inhofe said federal spending is out of control.

“Between the economic stimulus plan and the proposed 2009 omnibus appropriations package, Congress will have in-creased spending 80 percent over last year,” said Lucas, a Republican who represents Oklahoma’s 3rd Congressional District. “And, we must all remember nothing is free; the American people will be paying for these massive spending increases for generations to come.

“During these times of financial hardship, we must all practice fiscal restraint, including the federal government.”

Inhofe, R-Okla., said programs Obama outlined in his speech will make budget matters worse.

“There was no doubt congressional Democrats were big spenders, but President Obama has proved to be the same by drastically increasing the deficit with the $800 billion so-called stimulus bill,” Inhofe said. “Americans must understand that even if Obama were to halve the deficit by the end of his term, it would still be more than double the average deficit from the last eight years.
“I have gone out of my way to try to recognize publicly to give President Obama’s initiatives the benefit of a doubt,” Inhofe said, “but it appears that Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and other left-wing liberals have succeeded in pushing him too far to the left.”

# # #