Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) issued the following statement tonight after President Obama’s State of the Union address:

"Creating economic opportunity is the centerpiece of real economic recovery. Unfortunately, the policies articulated tonight are grounded in the President's long-held belief that only by empowering the government can we improve the lives of Americans.

"The past six years of consistently high unemployment and stagnant wages are proof this is simply not the case.  The only way to truly create economic opportunity is by empowering each individual American and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

"An agenda based on empowering Americans provides a better education through school choice, access to needed job skills through training programs, and patient-centered healthcare, not a government-run trainwreck like Obamacare.

"While we have many disagreements, it is my hope that, even in this fractured political environment, we can work together to improve our economy and achieve this mutual goal."