Sebelius, responding to Bush's claim that ``Americans can be confident about our economic growth,'' said in a speech tonight from the governor's mansion in Topeka that government action is needed to help Americans who face unemployment or home foreclosures.
``Our struggling economy requires urgent and immediate action, and then sustained attention,'' Sebelius said. ``A temporary fix is only the first step toward meeting our challenges and solving our problems.''
Bush, 61, tonight urged quick action on a $150 billion stimulus package that includes temporary tax cuts and rebates intended to avert a recession.
In her remarks, given after the president's address, Sebelius said America isn't as divided as its politics suggest and that the nation must work together to solve its problems.
``Working together, working hard, committing to results, we can get the job done,'' she said.
Sebelius, 59, called on Congress and the president to pass legislation making health care more affordable, increase the nation's energy independence and ``regain our standing in the world and protect our people and our interests.''
`Uncertain Times'
``These are uncertain times, but with strength and determination, we can meet the challenges together,'' she said. ``If Washington can work together, so quickly, on a short-term fix for families caught in the financial squeeze, then we can work together to transform America.''
Sebelius said the U.S. invasion of Iraq has left the nation with ``fewer allies and more enemies,'' without calling for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, which congressional Democrats unsuccessfully pushed for last year.
Bush tonight said though the mission in Iraq has been ``difficult and trying,'' the U.S. is making progress. ``Al-Qaeda is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated,'' Bush said.
Earlier today House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said Sebelius was chosen to respond to the president because ``she's a model of what we want to do in Washington'' by working across party lines.
Sebelius said she isn't giving a Republican or Democratic response to Bush but ``an American response.''
She spoke of ``a wakeup call to Washington, on behalf of a new American majority, that time is running out on our opportunities to meet our challenges and solve our problems.''
``In spite of the attempts to convince us that we are divided as a people, a new American majority has come together,'' she said. ``We are tired of leaders who rather than asking what we can do for our country, ask nothing of us at all.''
To contact the reporter on this story: Nicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com