Kline Reacts to President Obama's State of the Union Speech

President Barack Obama attempted to strike an optimistic tone about the nation's recovery from a recession and its future on Tuesday night during the annual State of the Union address.

But not all of those listening were too impressed as the President spoke about “rebuilding the nation,” referring to energy policy, jobs, education funding, economic fairness and immigration reform, among other issues.

U.S. Congressman John Kline, (R-Second District), of , had harsh words for the president following the address.

"Tonight, the President had the opportunity to rally our country toward the shared goal of a brighter future," Kline said in a statement. "Instead, he turned to the politics of envy, which creates deeper divisions among Americans."

The President spoke for more than an hour, emphasising the need to work together.

"No one built this country on their own," the President said. "This nation is great because we built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team. This nation is great because we get each others' backs. And if we hold fast to that truth in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great, no mission too hard."

Kline was unmoved.

"President Obama’s inauguration was a historic day of hope for America. At the time, I expressed a desire shared by many for Washington to put principles above partisanship," Kline wrote. "Unfortunately, Americans have since grown accustomed to failed policies and broken promises from the White House as 14 million have fallen victim to 35 straight months of unemployment greater than 8 percent," Kline said in a statement.

President Obama touched on a number of proposals during his speech, including a veterans jobs corps, the end to subsidies for oil companies, and income taxes of at least 30 percent for those who make more than $1 million a year.

Kline said the past three years of the President's agenda have not matched reality, and seemed skeptical the fourth would be any different.

"This administration has given us stimulus spending that created debt, not jobs," he said. "(He also gave us) health care “reform” that has led to 10,000 pages of business-stifling regulations; an activist National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with the power to tell businesses where they can and cannot create jobs; and the audacity to circumvent the people’s elected representatives by granting No Child Left Behind waivers to states with special strings attached."