Culminating a day many called surreal, President William Jefferson Clinton declared the state of the Union to be "strong" in his seventh State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress Tuesday.

The reactions of Congress, while generally supportive, split along party lines in terms of the strength of that support.

"Once again, President Clinton has suggested federal government action to strengthen Social Security, to strengthen health care - including long-term care, to boost educational opportunities and law enforcement," said Indiana's senior Senator Richard Lugar. "There will be strong bipartisan action to bring constructive progress in each of these areas."

Lugar said much of the president's proposed agenda was not new, and he questioned how much support Clinton will be able to maintain, considering the impeachment trial now under way in the U.S. Senate.

"Many of the same programs were mentioned by the president last year, but his personal leadership to further these goals was severely undermined by the personal conduct of President Clinton and the erosion of trust and integrity which his actions have produced," he said. "Progress this year may depend largely on working around the corrosive effects of the White House predicament."

According to Lugar's spokesman, the senator, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, plans on holding extensive hearings of the president's proposal to reform the USDA crop insurance program.

And Lugar will seek the president's full support for the senator's proposed legislation in ending the policy of food sanctions as a foreign policy tool and in opening foreign markets for agricultural products.

"Trade needs to be expanded and the senator wants the president's support for the agricultural trade bill that will knock down trade barriers on our agricultural products," Fisher said.

Congressman Tim Roemer (D-3rd Dist.) said his main goal, in light of the president's address, is to try and rebuild a positive working relationship with congressional Republicans to accomplish the goals outlined in the address Tuesday.

"My number one goal is to restore a sense of comity, civility and cooperation in order to accomplish bipartisan success and replace the poisonous atmosphere that lingers in Washington," he said. "Hoosiers want to see Congress and the president work together, not against each other. Without a sense of respect and bipartisanship, none of the initiatives outlined by the president or members of Congress will be possible."

Rep. Steve Buyer said he is cautious but optimistic about the plan put forward in the presidential address. Before supporting any proposals, he wants to know from where the money will come to fund them.

"I am pleased to see the president turning his attention to some of the same issues Republicans care about and hope to improve for middle class working families across America," Buyer said. "There are signs of caution. The president's latest budget contains billions of dollars in new federal spending and taxes. How are these new initiatives paid for?

"Until I see the details, there is cause for concern," he said.

Calls to Sen. Evan Bayh's office for reaction to the president's agenda laid out in the State of the Union address were not returned. [[In-content Ad]]