State of the Union 2015: Obama To Declare ‘Middle-Class Economics Works’
Published at
LARRY DOWNING/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — In his sixth State of the Union address — the second to last of his presidency — President Obama plans to declare an economic resurgence, doubling down on improving wages for the middle class.
“The verdict is clear,” the president will say, according to excerpts of his remarks released by the White House in advance of the speech. “Middle class economics works. Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work, as long as politics don’t get in the way.”
The president plans to make middle-class tax cuts a centerpiece of his annual address to the nation.
“Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?” Obama will say, according to his prepared remarks. “This country does best when everyone gets their fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.”
In the lead-up to Tuesday night, the president has previewed many of his taking points – from free community college tuition to lower mortgage insurance premiums and paid leave for workers and families – in what one senior adviser called an “SOTU Spoilers” tour. He has also signaled his intention to push for legislation that would boost cyber security, and ask Congress to ease the sanctions against Cuba.
In the wake of a global crackdown on terror, President Obama will push back against the “bankrupt ideology of violent extremism” in his State of the Union address.
“Tonight, I call on this Congress to show the world that we are united in this mission by passing a resolution to authorize the use of force against ISIL,” Obama plans to say, according to excerpts of his remarks as prepared for delivery.
The president will also call for stronger cyber security, following a spate of high-profile breaches, including the infamous Sony hack.
“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,” he will say. “Tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. If we don’t act, we’ll leave our nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe.”
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.