South Carolina’s congressional delegation had this to say about President Bush’s State of the Union address on Tuesday (U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., will respond from the Senate floor today):

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“President Bush understands that we can’t sit on the sidelines and simply watch Social Security go bankrupt. By establishing personal accounts within Social Security we can strengthen the system for future generations without harming current retirees or those nearing retirement.”

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

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“Tonight’s proposal to help unemployed workers learn new job skills is a long overdue policy, but it doesn’t curb the loss of manufacturing jobs that were once the backbone of our nation’s economy. The president’s policies of supporting free trade agreements and providing tax breaks to corporations that send their jobs abroad will ensure that those job losses will continue to mount.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.

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“Last year, the president set out an agenda to prosecute the War on Terror by ending the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, to spur the economy by bringing further tax relief to American families and small businesses, to ensure seniors have prescription drug coverage and to improve Medicare, and to bring more accountability to our education system so that no child is left behind. President Bush has remarkably achieved all of those goals.”

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.

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“President Bush took office with an advantage no president in recent times has enjoyed, a budget in surplus by $126 billion in 2001... over the next 10 years, $5.6 trillion in all. Since then, the bottom line of the budget has moved $9 trillion in the wrong direction. With a deficit approaching $500 billion, one would hope for less fiscal denial and more fiscal discipline in this year’s State of the Union. Deficits do matter; and the sooner we put the budget back on path, the better our union will be.”

U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C.

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“The president has shown courage and great leadership on a number of important and difficult issues. He has led an effort to rebuild the economy. He has led on education by providing more choices for children in failing schools. He has led on health care by helping Americans access affordable care, and now he is going to lead the effort to save and strengthen Social Security.”

U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.

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“There is no doubt our country faces different challenges than it did when President Bush took office in January of 2001, but this country has great resolve. The president noted that it is Americans that make this country great, and I couldn’t agree more. Americans are courageous and compassionate people who believe in the fundamental institutions of family, schools and faith.”

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C.

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“I wholeheartedly agree that we must stay the course as outlined by the president in order to make America and the world safer. Domestically, our economy is rebounding due primarily to the tax cuts Congress implemented. But, as the president stated, issues such as our energy policy, the rising cost of health care, Social Security reform, and the need for fiscal restraint must be addressed to ensure this growth continues.”

U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C.

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— Compiled by Lauren Markoe