Adam Smith wants to ban the State of the Union address due to ‘impossible to deliver’ promises

Democratic Rep. Adam Smith, ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, Tuesday called for an end to the annual presidential State of the Union, a tradition that dates back to the origins of the republic, saying that the speech allows presidents to promise things they can’t deliver.

“The State of the Union address promised more money than I can possibly imagine,” Smith said at the opening of a committee hearing on the defense and nuclear strategy. “I think we ought to ban the State of the Union address, and I say that for Democrats and Republicans alike.”