"I applaud the president's efforts to reduce earmarks and their influence on federal government spending. Earmarks and pork-barrel spending steal valuable taxpayer dollars from national priorities, skew the budget process and have led to corruption among lawmakers."

–Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"Tonight was President Bush's last State of the Union, and I do not believe history will judge his administration kindly. But I also believe the failures of the last seven years stem not just from any single policy, but from a broken politics in Washington."

–Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"Tonight President Bush claimed that the state of our union is strong. And we can all debate that. But what is not up for debate is that for too many American families, the true 'state of their lives' is one of economic anxiety and uncertainty."

–Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

"This was a president saying, 'You know what? Washington ought to get the job done.' Washington is broken, and I think that's one more reason for us to see a change in direction in our nation's capital."

–Mitt Romney, GOP presidential candidate

"Tonight President Bush detailed many important initiatives that Congress should undertake this year. I will continue to work with the administration and Congress to strengthen the economy, lower taxes, expand access to health care ... and advance new technologies for our future energy demand."

–Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas

"The economy is taking the No. 1 position of concern for most Texans and most Americans. Clearly the president sees an opportunity for bipartisan cooperation to try to act promptly to avoid a recession. .... [In the Senate] I know there is going to be attempts to add additional spending and other projects on this. ... I hope this will be a slimmed-down targeted economic stimulus package without a lot of extra things added on."

–Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas

"I am very pleased the president chose to offer a challenge to each and every member of Congress ... to continue working together. ... I think that it's important that our good friends who are Democrats will either own up to their own ideas or work with him rather than just talking about raising taxes."

–Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas

"It is important in this time of challenging economic times that we not lose focus on the fact that trade is still very important. ... And so I'm glad that the president called for that. I am disappointed in what he has termed an economic stimulus program because as I look at it, you need a magnifying glass to find the economic stimulus. ... Don't confuse a tax rebate with economic growth."

–Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas

"I don't believe there is anything wrong with the state of our union that electing a new president wouldn't help make better. ... I believe the president is more an obstacle than a solution; an obstacle to a sound economic policy and to a sane foreign policy."

–Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin