President Barack Obama will highlight the improving economy and low unemployment rate in his State of the Union address Tuesday.
By Tyler Pager
WASHINGTON – In his sixth State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Barack Obama vowed repeatedly to make life better for the middle class and to decrease income inequality, saying it was time to “turn the page” on the economic struggles and lengthy wars that characterized the past 15 years.
“Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well?” Obama said in a speech that lasted just under one hour. “Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?
Capitalizing on the growth of the American economy, the president called on Congress to pass legislation raising taxes on the wealthy in order to provide tax breaks on child care and education for the middle class and free community college.
The revenue package, which Obama said would raise $320 billion over 10 years, would close a trust fund loophole and raise the rate on capital gains to 28 percent from 25 percent. The package also will include new fees for the nation’s largest banks in an effort to discourage them from excessive borrowing.
The president told the story of Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis as an example of how Americans have rebounded from the economic crisis. Ben, a construction worker, and Rebekah, a waitress, suffered after the collapse of the housing market. Ben took whatever jobs he could find and Rebekah took out student loans to pay for community college, where she trained for a new career.
Rebekah and Ben were then able to buy a new home. Rebekah got a new job and a raise, and Ben returned to construction work.
“So the verdict is clear. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works,” Obama said. “And these policies will continue to work, as long as politics don’t get in the way.”
Obama also stressed the need for American workers to have paid sick leave and paid maternity leave, saying America is the only advanced country that does not guarantee those benefits.
In response to the increasing threat posed by the Islamic State, Obama demanded that Congress authorize the use of force against ISIS. Calling for “a smarter kind of American leadership,” he said the U.S. is leading a broad coalition, including Arab countries, to fight against ISIS instead of engaging in a ground war.
“We’re also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism,” Obama said.
Obama only briefly touched on hot-button issues such as immigration reform and the recent terrorism attacks in Paris. Several members of Congress held up pencils when Obama did mention the Paris attacks to honor the victims and support freedom of expression.
The president also asked Congress to end the trade embargo on Cuba, on the heels of Obama restoring diplomatic relations with the country and highlighting the release of Alan Gross, a government contractor who spent nearly five years in a Cuban jail. Gross attended the speech Tuesday, sitting in first lady Michelle Obama’s box.
Climate change should be addressed as an issue of national security, Obama said. He said America will lead international efforts to reduce carbon emissions worldwide.
“And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts,” Obama said.
He also threatened to veto any legislation that attempted to roll back his signature Affordable Care Act.
In a break from tradition, the White House unveiled many of the president’s proposals ahead of the speech looking to draw more attention to his address. Yet, it also resulted in Republicans denouncing the speech hours before it even started.
Obama reiterated many of those proposals Tuesday, including his call to revamp America’s cybersecurity and improve customer and student privacy, which he announced last week.
The president proposed a series of legislation aimed at creating a national standard for notifying consumers of data breaches, increasing partnerships between the public and private sector for sharing cybersecurity information and removing barriers for local governments to develop their own broadband networks.
“No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids,” Obama said. “So we’re making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism.
Obama’s proposals to give him authority on trade deals and to improve transportation infrastructure are two areas for potential collaboration with the Republicans.
But the president threatened to veto any Republican bills that would cut back Obamacare, change the Wall Street reforms embodied in the Dodd-Frank law or further restrict immigration.
Republicans remained seated for most of the speech as Democrats gave the president standing ovations on numerous occasions. One line that got the Republicans applauding was Obama’s statement that he has “no more campaigns to run.” As the GOP side of the House chamber began clapping, Obama veered from his prepared speech to note: “I know because I won both of them.”
But he did ask both parties to move away from partisan politics.
“Understand, a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine,” Obama said. “A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears.”
