September 8, 2011 | 7:11 pm

Berman and Sherman react differently to Obama’s speech

Posted by Jonah Lowenfeld

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Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), left, and Rep. Howard Berman (D-Van Nuys) testifying at a house subcommittee in 2003.

Anyone who thinks that one long-time incumbent Democrat is the same as any other might want to take a look at the reactions of Rep. Howard Berman (D - Valley Village) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D - Sherman Oaks) to President Obama’s speech this evening.

Sherman and Berman have both declared that they intend to run for reelection in California’s newly redrawn 30th congressional district, and if neither one decides to either retire, change jobs, or run in another district, the voters in the West San Fernando Valley could be faced with a choice that is more subtle than usual.

Subtle doesn’t mean inconsequential, though.

In an emailed statement, Berman said he was “pleased to see President Obama take a definitive step tonight towards bringing this gridlock to an end and finally jump starting efforts to get the economy moving again.” Berman added that he would soon introduce two separate jobs bills and exhorted the Republican majority to allow jobs legislation to pass.

Sherman, meanwhile, called the president’s plan for job creation “good but insufficient.”

“We need a bolder spending program over the next 2 years to get us out of this recession,” Sherman said in an emailed statement, “but if and only if it is paired with an even bolder program to reduce the deficit over the next 10 years.”

When compared with the reaction from, say, the Republican National Committee (“President Obama’s Latest Rehash Of Failed Proposals Proves That He Is Devoid Of Solutions And Unfit To Lead”), the difference between Berman and Sherman may seem slight. But come 2012, those subtle differences may be what leads voters in the 30th district in one direction or the other.

Read the complete statements from Berman and Sherman below:

Congressman Howard Berman on President Obama’s Address to Congress on Job Creation
Berman Announces Intention to Introduce His Own Jobs Bills Later This Month

Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s address to Congress this evening.

“No issue facing our nation right now is more urgent than job creation.  Californians are rightly asking ‘where are the jobs’ and due to the partisan bickering that has sadly become synonymous with Washington, efforts to answer these calls have stalled.  I was pleased to see President Obama take a definitive step tonight towards bringing this gridlock to an end and finally jump starting efforts to get the economy moving again.  In this same vein, I will be introducing two separate jobs bills in the coming weeks that are designed to increase the export of American made goods and in turn create new jobs here at home at no additional cost to taxpayers.

“In our democracy however, it takes more than delivering speeches and introducing bills to get our economy back on track.  The Republican Majority here in the House must finally allow jobs proposals to move forward in Congress.  It has been nearly 250 days since Republicans took control, and since then they have been unable to pass even one single piece of jobs legislation.

“I am committed to doing what we can in Congress to promote job creation and put more money in the pockets of middle class families.”

Congressman Sherman Reacts to President Obama’s Economic Plan

Washington DC – Following President Obama’s September 8th speech, Congressman Brad Sherman released the following statement:

“The President’s economic plan is good but insufficient.  We need a bolder spending program over the next 2 years to get us out of this recession, but if and only if it is paired with an even bolder program to reduce the deficit over the next 10 years.  I’m pleased that the President supports tax breaks for the middle class, including the payroll tax holiday which provides immediate additional stimulus and is self-reversing.

I’m disappointed that among the measures that congress should enact the president mentioned free trade agreements; this will have the exact opposite effect and ensure the loss of thousands of American jobs.  I would also like to see the administration take a more active role in keeping housing prices from declining any further.  Along with any jobs recovery act, we should have a housing act.”