William Martini: “tonight Gov. Christie Todd Whitman will give the response to the State of the Union Address. She was chosen because of…”

“tonight Gov. Christie Todd Whitman will give the response to the State of the Union Address. She was chosen because of her determination to work for a smaller, smarter, less costly government in New Jersey. It has been said ``for democratic nations to be virtuous and prosperous, they require but the will to do it.'' Governor Whitman has displayed that will by her actions in making the tough decision. I can only hope tonight the President will come to Capitol Hill with that same determination to work with the new majority in Congress to once and for all transform the Federal Government. Since January 4 the new Congress has demonstrated that type of will. This was apparent in the passage of the Congressional Accountability Act, as well as our willingness and determination to move forward to pass the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and the balanced budget amendment. Mr. Speaker, after the speeches are done tonight, what the American people will be looking for is not more talk, but rather for our President to cooperate and reaffirm the simple but effective lesson taught to us by Governor Whitman of New Jersey: Where there is a will, there is a way.”