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Congressman Lou Barletta, a supporter of Donald Trump from the start, got some special attention from the president last night as Trump left the House Chamber after addressing Congress.
“He said, ‘Lou, you’re not lonely anymore’,” Barletta noted during a phone interview.
Both Barletta, R-Hazleton, and counterpart Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, liked the tone of the speech and said Trump was “presidential.”
“He spoke to Congress as the voice of the American people,” Barletta said.
“It exceeded my expectations,” added Cartwright, who noted he had a “low bar” after hearing the president’s inaugural address.
Barletta said Trump touched on an issue “close to my heart” — victims of crimes by illegal immigrants.
“That struck me,” Barletta said about Trump’s call to create a new government office — Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE). Barletta said he was also pleased with Trump’s promises to veterans.
“He’s committed,” Barletta said. “He picked up where he left off on the campaign trail.”
Cartwright said the speech was a “big step forward” for the president because it included goals for his administration. However, he was disappointed the goals weren’t accompanied by a timeline or more specifics on how Trump would accomplish them.
Cartwright brought Michelle LaCroix, 26, as his guest. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, LaCroix, of Scranton, was on her mother’s health coverage when she had to be “dragged to Marworth” because of her drug addition.
LaCroix thought Trump’s speech was “lacking” even though he made some “pretty hefty goals and bold statements” when it came to addiction.
“To make a dent in the epidemic, you wouldn’t have to go outside our borders,” she said. She also believes Trump’s wall will not be able to keep out drugs like he intends.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, agrees with the president on several issues, including rolling back regulations and protecting communities from crime.
“There are many issues where a bipartisan Congress and the president can make real progress: reforming the tax code, fixing our schools, improving our broken health care system,” Toomey said in a statement.
Toomey echoed the president’s call asking for citizens to “join forces” during his speech.
“I hope my Democrat colleagues will look at each discrete issue, work constructively, and then decide whether or not to support an idea based on its merits,” Toomey said.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, said he would look forward to working with the president, but cautioned he would keep Republicans, including Toomey, “accountable.”
“If President Trump is ready to get serious and fight for policies that make sure Pennsylvania’s workers and middle class families get a fair shot, then I am willing to work with him,” Casey said.
