Last night was the first time in his presidency that George W. Bush gave his State of the Union Speech to a Democratically controlled Congress. He laid out his domestic agenda with renewed calls for action on energy independence, immigration reform and health care coverage. The last part of his speech dealt with the war in Iraq. So--how did it play with the Democrats and with members of his own party? Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is House Majority leader and Sen. David Vitter is a Republican from Louisiana. Both appeared on "Squawk Box."
Hoyer said President Bush was very gracious in his remarks to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (she's the first woman in the post)--and he said he felt Democrats were very respectful to Mr. Bush. But Hoyer said calls for bipartisan approaches have been made before by Republicans and the president-- with little results.
As for specifics--Hoyer said on immigration--the president may actually find Democrats more receptive to reform than Republicans. Hoyer says the country must find ways to secure the borders while allowing for some sort of guest worker program--and allow the 10-11 million illegals in the country to come out in the open. Hoyer admits that last part is a stumbling block with many Republicans.