Idaho officials respond

COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho lawmakers contacted Monday said they weren't crazy about the president's inauguration speech.

With federal representatives in Washington and state representatives in Boise for the Legislative session, a few took time to weigh in on President Barack Obama's second inauguration speech.

Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, said despite the ceremonies on Monday, he hopes that Obama's second term will be more focused on job creation and less spending.

"The country is headed toward a financial train wreck unless the president and Congress put the brakes on spending and step on the accelerator for manufacturing growth," he said. "A renewed economy that has good jobs for the unemployed is one of the factors that must be in the equation for economic sanity."

One of the president's talking points was creating a bigger middle class.

Rep. Vito Barbieri, the Dalton Gardens Republican who has opposed the current administration, said he's skeptical the president can achieve that through rules or regulations.

"How is it going to be a bigger middle class, is the state going to fund it?" he asked. "The ideology is the state can afford to help everyone. The reality is the bureaucracy will do the opposite of everything (Obama) says it can do."

Other legislators, such as John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, were busy Monday attending committee meetings and would have to catch up on the president's words later.

But Sen. Jim Risch, who attended the swearing-in ceremony from the U.S. Capitol Building, issued a press release afterward.

"Four years ago I said I would work with the new president where I could. I meant it then and I still mean it today," Risch said. "But I see another four years for this administration that are similar to the past four. I will continue to advocate for a government that allows more freedom, fewer regulations, and lower spending by the federal government. I believe in the creation of an atmosphere that fosters the free enterprise spirit that will create more jobs and opportunities for all. On this Inauguration Day I stand ready to work with anyone who believes in achieving these things and more."