PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO MAKE JOBS, SMALL BUSINESSES PRIORITIES IN 2010; VOWS INVESTMENT IN “SKILLS AND EDUCATION OF OUR PEOPLE"

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HIGHLIGHTS, NATIONAL & LOCAL REACTIONS TO SPEECH

 

View video of speech: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2010-state-union-address
 

Read full text of speech: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-state-union...
 

January 28, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama pledged to make job creation a priority, along with helping America’s families who have been shouldering “the burden of working harder and longer for less; of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college.”

 

He outlined specific goals to create new jobs, provide tax credits and other help for small businesses, reduce college costs, encourage innovation, increase exports of U.S.-made products and eliminate tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

“I have never been more hopeful about America’s future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong,” said the President, who called on Congress to assure that Americans get a government that “matches their decency, that embodies their strength.”

Banking bail-out

 

He announced that most of the bail-out money on banks has now been recovered. He has proposed a fee on the biggest banks to assure that money will be used to pay back taxpayers instead of paid out in bonuses.
 

Jobs

 

Obama cited accomplishments in his first year, including creating two million jobs through the Recovery Act (stimulus funds), extending unemployment benefits, and cutting taxes for 95% of working families, as well as tax cuts for small businesses, first-time homebuyers, parents caring for children, and college students. “And we haven’t raised income taxes by a single dime on a single person,” he noted.
 

The President called on Congress to pass a new jobs bill. In addition, he said, “We should start where most new jobs do—in small businesses…companies that being when an entrepreneur takes a chance on a dream, or a worker decides it’s time to become her own boss.”
 

Small business inititiatves,  plus new trade and tax policies to spur economic growth

 

He noted that financing remains difficult even for profitable small businesses. “So tonight, I’m proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat. I’m also proposing a new small business tax credit—one that will go to over one million small businesses who hire new workers or raise wages.” He also called for elimination of all capital gains taxes on small business investment, plus a tax incentive for all large and small businesses to invest in new plants and equipment.
 

He added, “It’s time to finally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas, and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs right here in the United States of America.”

 

Climate change bill and investment in green economy

Obama wants to put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities and provide rebates to homeowners who make homes more energy-efficient, supporting clean energy jobs. He also seeks to increase investment in innovation, such as research into building cheaper solar cells or curing cancer. He called for passage of a climate and energy bill with incentives for clean energy.
 

Noting that “the more products we make and sell to other countries, the more jobs we support right here in America,” Obama revealed a new goal: double U.S. exports over the next five years to support two million jobs in America. “To help meet this goal, we’re launching a National Export Initiative that will help farmers and small businesses increase their exports, and reform export controls consistent with our national security,” he said.
 

Education

 

He also called for investment in the skills and education of Americans. His administration has launched a national competition to improve schools in hopes of raising student achievement, inspiring students in math and sciences, and turn around failing schools. “In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty program around is a world-class education,” he said, adding that a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job. He urged the Senate to pass a bill approved by the House that aims to revitalize community colleges and provide career pathways to children of working families.
 

The bill would also end taxpayer subsidies to banks for student loans. “Instead, let’s take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants,” he said. “And let’s tell another one million students that when they graduate they will be required to pay only 10% of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years—and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college.”  

 

More help for families, workers, and homeowners

 

He also announced plans to double the child care tax credit, increase tax credits for workers starting retirement savings accounts, and step up refinancing to help homeowners move into more affordable mortgages.
 

Healthcare reform

 

Healthcare costs keep many families just one illness away from financial ruin, the President noted. He called on Congress to pass comprehensive healthcare reform to help families in need, reforms he said would cut the deficit by $1 trillion through reducing healthcare costs. “Don’t walk away from reform,” he urged. “Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.”
 

Deficit and proposed spending freeze

 

Obama came into office facing staggering debts run up by the Bush administration through two wars plus a recession. He defended his decision to increase the deficit with the stimulus bill and economic stabilization. To reduce the deficit, he announced a freeze on government spending starting in 2010, though spending for national security, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would be exempted from the freeze. He also called for a bipartisan fiscal commission and urged the senate to restore pay-as-you-go, a tactic that he credited for leading to record surpluses in the 1990s.
 

Campaign finance reform; President slams Supreme Court decision

 

He called for limits on contributions to candidates, disclosure of earmarks, and other reforms.
 

The President criticized the Supreme Court for its decision last week to eliminate limits on corporate contributions to campaigns. He predicted the decision “will open the floodgates for special interests—including foreign corporations—to spend without limit in our elections.” He urged Congress to pass a bill to assure that U.S. elections are not bankrolled by powerful interests here or overseas.
 

Bipartisan call for leadership

 

He also took members of both parties to task. “To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town—a supermajority—then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership.”
 

Timetable to bring home troops

 

He pledged support for a strong national defense and noted that in the past year, “hundreds of al Qaeda’s fighters and affiliates, including many senior leaders, have been captured or killed—far more than in 2008.” He pledged to have all combat troops out of Iraq by the end of August, after “responsibly leaving Iraq to its people.” In Afghanistan, the U.S. has increased troops and is training Afghan security forces to take the lead in July 2011, when Obama pledged to begin bringing troops home. First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are leading efforts to support military families and build a “21st century VA.”
 

Nuclear disarmamant

 

Obama called for a global effort to reduce nuclear weapons and assure that they do not fall into the hands of terrorists. He said he is also working through the G20 to sustain a lasting global recovery, working with other nations.

Humanitarianism, civil rights and employment rights

 

He praised 10,000 Americans working to help the people of Haiti recover from the earthquake and rebuild. “Abroad, America’s greatest source of strength has always been our ideals,” he said.

In contrast to the prior administration, Obama’s Civil Rights division is “once again prosecuting civil rights violations and employment discrimination,” the President said. He also called for repeal of the military’s don’t ask, don’t tell policy and pledged to crack down on violations of equal pay laws. In addition, he called for Congress to work on immigration reforms “to secure our borders and enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.”
 

He called on leaders in both parties to put the interests of the American people ahead of personal political gain. “Let’s seize this moment,” he concluded, “to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union one more.”

 

President's post-speech appeal to voters

 

After his speech, the President sent an e-mail to millions of Americans urging them to join him in persuading Congress to adopt his agenda. Below is the text of that message: 


We face big and difficult challenges. Change on the scale we seek does not come easily. But I will never accept second place for the United States of America.

 

That is why I called for a robust jobs bill without delay. It's why I proposed a small businesses tax credit, new investments in infrastructure, and pushed for climate legislation to create a clean energy economy.

 

It's why we're taking on big banks, reforming Wall Street, revitalizing our education system, increasing transparency -- and finishing the job on health insurance reform.

 

It's why I need your help -- because I am determined to fight to defend the middle class, and special interest lobbyists will go all out to fight us.

 

Help me show that the American people are ready to join this fight for the middle class. Add your name to a letter to Congress today:

http://my.barackobama.com/SOTU 

 

REACTIONS TO THE SPEECH

 

A CBS NEWS poll found tht 83% of speech watchers approve of the proposals the president made in his speech tonight, while 17% disapprove.   70% of speech watchers also said that Barack Obama shares their priorities for the country.

 

The National Republican Party posted the following comments on its website regarding the President’s speech. “After a year of misplaced priorities, misguided policies and broken promises, the Obama Administration has shown how out of touch they are with mainstream America. What is now considered the same tired Washington scheme – where politics trump people, Washington wins and Main Street loses – the President faces an anxious and disillusioned American public.”

 

San Diego Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray observed,  "It was sad that he couldn’t let the health care issue drop."  According to KPPC Radio, Bilbray faulted the President for "trying to bring up the same failed numbers of saying that somehow mandatory universal health insurance was going to be a great savior for the budget." 
 

Local Democrats gathered to watch the State of the Union speech at Gio’s Bistro & Wine Bar in La Mesa. “La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club president Linda Armacost said the President’s speech made her feel “energized and inspired. I’m recommitted to achieving progressive Democratic values right here in East County—this was an appeal to our higher selves.”

“I liked that he called Republicans to task,” said Lori Kern Greenberg, a graphic designer. “But I really wish he’d said you need to go back to a public option,” she added, referring to the healthcare reform measure in Congress. His jobs message also resonated with Greenberg. “I am underemployed. I have a job, but it isn’t in my field.”
 

But Bill Pitts, a retired vice principal, believed the President “addressed all areas of concern, directed specifically at middle class families who are stressed.”

 


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