January 27,2003

Expectations for the State of the Union Speech

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Re: State of the union address
Da: Monday, Jan. 27, 2003

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following
comment on what he expects from President Bush’s state of the union address tomorrow night.

“The President’s speech agenda writes itself this year. The prospect of war and the slow economy are on everybody’s mind. The country needs to hear about the possibility of going to war and how the Bush plan for economic growth will create jobs. I also want to hear the President spell out his plans for improving Medicare and adding a prescription drug benefit for older Americans. This is an issue where his direction and leadership are very important. I think it makes sense that his speech won’t be just one laundry list of priorities because the war against terrorism and our national  security, the economy, and health care demand focus. President Bush has that focus. He sees the forest, not the trees.”