Thread: The State of the Union 1/25/2011

A viewer’s guide: What to watch for during Obama’s State of the Union speech
By Jan Sasseen – Tue Jan 25, 5:09 am ET

President Barack Obama has another opportunity tonight to build on the surprisingly quick rebound he has engineered since receiving a "shellacking" from the voters in November. Thanks to the series of compromises he forged with congressional Republicans in December, followed by the uplifting, heartfelt eulogy he delivered in Tucson — which reminded many voters of why they liked him in the first place — the president is now enjoying his strongest approval ratings since early last year.

But the president and his aides are under no illusions about the tough challenges in the coming months: Even if a more civil tone prevails in Washington, the newly empowered GOP is gearing up for big fights aimed at cutting spending, rolling back the deficit and government regulation, and whittling away at the president's health care reforms. As he speaks to the nation from the U.S. House chamber, Obama's stated task will be to lay out his agenda for the coming year. But his real goal will be to reframe those looming battles so that they can be fought on terms more to his liking — not to mention, on terms that will appeal to the many independent and Democratic voters who have grown skeptical of his administration and its ability to get the economy moving again.

So what to watch as the speech gets under way? Here's a viewer's guide:

The style: When it comes to the State of the Union, there are two kinds of speeches presidents typically give. Option one is a long, detailed policy agenda that serves as a checklist for all the things he has accomplished and the many more he — and the multiple constituencies he aims to please — would still like to see enacted. The second is a more broadly thematic speech intended to inspire Americans' imagination by laying out a compelling national narrative — with the details to be filled in later. In recent years, most presidents have stuck to the laundry-list style, perhaps none more than Bill Clinton, whose valedictory State of the Union in 2000 clocked in at nearly 90 minutes.

In his first two addresses to the nation, Obama, too, has leaned heavily on the policy specifics. But it's not likely he'll do it again. As he demonstrated anew in Tucson, Obama is at his best when he sets out broad themes and speaks more directly to the nation's aspirations. Obama as professor-in-chief over the past two years has proved a much less compelling orator. "He'll be much more inclined, after Tucson, to go thematic," says Norm Ornstein, a political analyst with the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. Not only is it much more comfortable terrain for the president — it's far more successful with voters. Watch for him to emphasize the need to work together to solve the nation's problems, and offer a few olive branches on policy to the Republicans to show them, along with those watching at home, that he's sincere.

The message: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. The president has sent a message loud and clear in recent days: His speech will be focused largely on jobs and the challenges of getting the economy growing again.

That's hardly a surprise. In poll after poll, Americans have made clear for many months that jobs and the economy are their overwhelming priority. "In this environment, jobs dominate everything," says Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg, who, along with consultant James Carville, crafted the successful messaging on the economy that helped Bill Clinton get elected.

Yet one big reason the Democrats performed so dismally last November was that many Americans didn't think that Obama and his congressional allies were paying enough attention to the issue as they got distracted by health care, the Gulf oil spill and a review of Afghanistan war strategy. So when the president takes the podium, his overriding goal will be to convince average Americans — finally — that he gets it.

Language and demeanor: Pay close attention. Language and demeanor will be key to the president's success in rebranding his efforts. Obama has spoken repeatedly, if sporadically, about many of these issues over the past two years. Yet he's often done so in a manner that came off as far too detached to connect with the pain and worries of average Americans. If he wants to win many of those disenchanted voters back, he'll need to develop more effective rhetoric — and a clearer narrative on how all his policies will fit together to rebuild the economy and help ensure a prosperous future for middle- and working-class Americans.

"As he lays out our economic challenges, he needs to connect them with a set of goals that working Americans feel they will have the opportunity to participate in," says Sarah Rosen Wartell, a former domestic policy adviser to Clinton who is now the executive vice president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank with close ties to the Obama administration.

The president has often talked, for example, about fostering innovation as critical to maintaining the nation's competitive strength and ability to create new jobs, and he is expected to do so again tonight. Wartell points out that, while clearly important, such talk can often "feel like a great strategy if you have a Ph.D. in biotechnology," but not if you're a struggling factory working or a high school graduate with limited prospects. The State of the Union will essentially give the president an opportunity to start over with those voters, if he can demonstrate that he has a clear vision for the economy that speaks to them.

The specifics: While the president will favor broad themes over a laundry list of proposals, his speech won't be entirely devoid of specifics. Look for him to highlight the need to bolster job growth in the short term but also emphasize that the government has a role to play in promoting measures that will enhance the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. economy and American workers. Improving education, bolstering trade and modernizing infrastructure will all be on the agenda; he'll argue that continued spending on such things as high-speed rail, clean energy and scientific research will help create the jobs of the future. But with little money available and a Congress hostile to new spending, one key question is what he will propose to turn that vision into concrete investments.

At the same time, the president will try to grab the high ground on reducing the deficit; he'll argue that the big spending cuts Republicans want to make are misguided while the economy is still weak. But he'll have to come up with at least a few proposals that show he is serious about restraining spending and reducing the deficits more responsibly over the long term.

"The question is, can he begin to lay out a credible deficit reduction plan?" says Greg Valliere, a Washington policy analyst for the Potomac Research Group. If he can begin to do that, says Valliere, he'll have far more leverage in the upcoming battles with Congress.

The biggest controversy may come if, as expected, he indicates a willingness to reform Social Security. Many Democrats will be watching warily to see how far he'll go in backing calls from his own bipartisan deficit commission to raise the retirement age or trim other benefits. He is also expected to endorse calls for broad-ranging tax reform that would overhaul how businesses — and maybe individuals — pay taxes. Proponents say that by simplifying the tax structure and eliminating many deductions, overall tax rates could be lowered for everyone even as the government brings in more revenue to limit the red ink.

( continues ... )

The mood: In past years, the floor of Congress has come to feel like something akin to a partisan pep rally on the night of the State of the Union. Democrats all sit on one side of the chamber, Republicans all sit on the other, and each side offers up vigorous support only when their own party's president is in power. This year, several members have agreed to sit together in what's intended to be a visible show of support for efforts to reduce the nasty partisanship in today's politics.

Will the new seating chart change the mood in the room? Many have dismissed the move as little more than symbolic — and not everyone is going along. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), for one, has refused.

But proponents of the idea say the symbolism matters. "Americans want Washington to do something, but they also want [political leaders] to behave in a way that elevates the nation, not drags it down," says Jim Kessler, vice president for policy at Third Way, a centrist think tank. Sure, it may just be a baby step to greater cooperation, but that's better than no step at all.

Whether or not that has any long-term impact, it will certainly make for a less strange piece of political theater. "It will be a different experience watching the State of the Union, not seeing everyone on one side jumping up together like a jack-in-the-box, with the other side sitting on their hands like a gloomy Gus," says Kessler. The floor of Congress "will look less like a hockey game."

That hardly means that "Kumbaya" will be the order of the day, however. One clear sign of the battles ahead: Despite the mingled seating, Republicans will still be unlikely to show much enthusiasm — especially when Obama lays out specifics. And Democrats may struggle to muster much support for ideas borrowed from the Republican playbook, such as corporate tax reform or reining in Social Security. Watch to see if those ideas get far more backing from Republicans than Democrats.

The moments: In the aftermath of Tucson, most of the senators and representatives in the audience will be as intent as the president on putting forth a new, more civil face. So we're unlikely to see anyone yell out "You Lie" to the president, as Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) did when Obama gave a speech to Congress on health care, or to witness something like the moment last year when Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito mouthed "not true" to the president after Obama criticized the court's ruling on a campaign finance case.

But there will still be moments of tension — starting with the question of which of the justices will attend. Last year's incident ignited a debate over whether it's appropriate for justices to attend such a political event. Alito has said he won't be coming this year, and Justice Antonin Scalia hasn't been in a decade. As for the other seven justices, it's unclear who is planning to show.

There will be emotional highlights as well, especially as many of those touched by the Tucson shootings will be sitting with first lady Michelle Obama in her gallery box in the House chamber. Daniel Hernandez, the intern who helped save Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' life, is expected, as are Dr. Peter Rhee and several other doctors who attended to the victims . The first lady has also invited members of the family of Christina Taylor Green, the 9-year-old killed in the attack. The president's speech will no doubt feature another brief but moving tribute to those lost in the shooting and the heroism displayed that day. And that, no doubt, will again win applause from all.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclus...V3ZXI4MjE3cw--


Official: Obama to call for 5-year spending freeze
Julie Pace, Associated Press – 48 mins ago

WASHINGTON – A White House official says President Barack Obama will call for a five-year freeze in non-security, discretionary spending during his State of the Union address.

The official says the proposal will be part of the president's plans to reduce the deficit that he will outline in Tuesday's primetime address. The official says Obama will also call for lawmakers to back a five-year plan put forth by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to save $78 billion in defense spending.

Obama is under pressure from the public and lawmakers to cut spending. Several Republican lawmakers have proposed cutting $100 billion from Obama's budget for the current year.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly ahead of the president's speech.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_state_...ZmaWNpYWxvYmFt

Official: Obama to call for 5-year spending freeze

REALLY???? Spend more than all other presidents combined in your first 18 months is office THEN call for a spending freeze???

So we're going to freeze spending at the out-of-sight spending levels the government just achieved. Will many people believe this is a good thing?

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A man is making $2000 a month and his expenses are $10,000 a month. When the man decided to freeze his spending for the next 5 years, stupid Americans cheer! So , in the 5 years spending freeze, his debts will increase by $40,000 ($8000 X 5). Now, how he hell is he going to pay off his debts when his spending is 5 times his revenue?

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This is what special interest liberalism brings: Bankruptcy and ruin. California. supporting millions of illegal Mexicans by giving their children welfare, food stamps, free healthcare, housing, free education, tax free jobs.. and then calling the giveaway "Healthy Families." California is being economically crippled by a cadre of reconquistas in the state legislature who don't care if we go bankrupt as long as their illegal relatives are welcomed and provided for....

Obama State of the Union: spending, but restraint
Ben Feller, Ap White House Correspondent – 41 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Eager to show some budget toughness, President Barack Obama will use his State of the Union address to call for a five-year freeze on all discretionary government spending outside of national security, a White House official said Tuesday.

The move is almost identical to the freeze Obama called for in his address to the nation last year at this time — his current proposal would cover five years, not three years — and ultimately it may have little effect. Congress decides the budget on its own terms, and Obama has even less sway than he did in his first two years on the job now that Republicans have taken control of the House.

In a political sense, Obama is fighting Republicans for the upper hand in showing fiscal restraint in a time of staggering debt. Public angst over spending was a defining force in the 2010 midterm elections, and it is expected to remain so as Obama's re-election drive begins.

Overall, Obama is trying to convince the American people and a divided Congress that he has a vision for speeding up job creation, promoting spending on the core of his agenda but promising to rein in debt. His speech will reflect reality: The economy trumps all.

The president is also putting his weight behind a five-year plan developed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to limit planned Pentagon budget increases by $78 billion over five years — a plan that's run into opposition from key Republicans. Obama's budget freeze would not touch money related to national security or the politically popular but costly entitlement programs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

To a nationwide television audience in prime time, Obama will home in on jobs, the issue of most importance to the public and to his hopes for a second term. A smiling president looked relaxed and upbeat at the White House in a brief photo opportunity Tuesday afternoon.

Specifically, he will focus on improving the education, innovation and infrastructure of the United States as the way to provide a sounder economic base. He will pair that with calls to reduce the government's debt — now topping $14 trillion — and reform government. Those five areas will frame the speech, with sprinklings of fresh proposals.

He will wrap it all under the heading of helping the United States to compete more successfully in the world — a "win the future" rallying cry that Obama's aides hopes will resonate with both workers and business executives and bind the political parties.

Yet no matter how ambitious Obama's rhetorical reach, his speech at the halfway point of his term will be viewed in the context of his new political reality.

The midterm elections gave Republicans control of the House and a stronger minority vote in the Senate, meaning he hasn't the option of pushing through changes over GOP objections. The contrast between the two parties' visions remains stark, and where to slash spending, and by how much, will drive much of the debate for the rest of 2011.

Obama's speech will come just hours after the House is to vote on setting spending for the rest of the year at 2008, pre-recession levels. That resolution, largely symbolic, would put Republican lawmakers on record in favor of cutting $100 billion from Obama's budget for the current year, as promised in last year's campaign.

The president is promising to spend and cut at the same time, a politically tricky mix.

Obama's senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Tuesday morning the administration believes it can make targeted investments in such as education and infrastructure to create a business environment more conducive to job creation, while simultaneously backing budget cuts.

The president will give nods to American interests around the globe, with a traditional foreign policy section that will cover the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, terrorism threats and diplomacy. But his primary goal is for those watching to emerge with more confidence about the economy of the country and more clarity about his vision for it.

The atmosphere is expected to be more sober and civil than in recent years.

The speech comes less than three weeks after an assassination attempt on Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz. She is recovering remarkably well after being shot in the head during a one-man rampage that left six dead. Arizona's congressional delegation will leave an empty seat for Giffords on the House floor Tuesday night.

Among those who will sit with first lady Michelle Obama at the president's speech will be the family of a 9-year-old girl who was killed, an aide to Giffords who rushed to help her at the shooting and trauma surgeons who have treated the wounded lawmaker.

In an attempt at unity following an attack on one of their own, some Democratic and Republican lawmakers will sit together at Obama's speech. Others have dismissed that idea as superficial. The focus on tone comes a year after Obama's rebuke of a Supreme Court decision in his State of the Union speech led Justice Samuel Alito to mouth back from the audience, "Not true."

Six justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, will attend Tuesday's address. Alito is in Hawaii this week, and will not attend; neither will Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.

The timing also means that Obama will be giving his main policy-driven speech of the year in the shadow of his own highly regarded eulogy for the Tucson victims, which served as a call for national unity and civility. That only makes delivering a successful speech now more difficult, said Russell Riley, a presidential scholar at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

"If you want an important speech out of Barack Obama right now, he already gave it," Riley said, referring to the Arizona memorial on Jan. 12. "What's going to happen now with the State of the Union is part of the ongoing story of Washington, and it is a significant event in the political calendar. Yet from a historical perspective, they just tend not to make a difference."

Obama is trying to emphasize economic priorities that can draw both public appeal and enough Republican consideration for at least serious debate.

But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested Tuesday that Obama has a long road ahead as he tries to court Republican support.

"Voters sent a clear message in November. When it comes to jobs and the economy, the administration's policies have done far more damage than good," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Republicans have chosen Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin to deliver the televised response to Obama's address. He is planning to promote budget cuts as essential to responsible governing, and will speak from the hearing room of the House Budget Committee, which he now chairs.

The president's aides say Obama will talk about cutting spending too, although the details are less clear. In the background are the politically explosive recommendations of his bipartisan commission on how to trim the debt, such as shrinking Social Security benefits and raising the age of eligibility.

The White House said Obama will not dive deeply into policy or offer a list of ideas.

In a new Associated Press-GfK poll, more than half of those surveyed disapproved of how Obama has handled the economy, and just 35 percent said it has improved on his watch. Still, the poll revealed a sense of perspective: Three-quarters of those questioned said it is unrealistic to expect noticeable improvements after two years.

Obama's radio address over the weekend previewed what he is expected to say to the nation on Tuesday.

"We're living in a new and challenging time in which technology has made competition easier and fiercer than ever before. Countries around the world are upping their game and giving their workers and companies every advantage possible," the president said. "But that shouldn't discourage us. Because I know we can win that competition."

Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor, Julie Pace and Jeannine Aversa contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110125/...state_of_union

What Obama needs to do tonight Politico /s/politico/48135;_ylt=Ane0XTT.kNiHdcyYZFI8_NhH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDM TE2NTQ0bjVtBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLXd oYXRvYmFtYW5l

Mapping the State of the Union The Daily Beast /s/dailybeast/12028_stateoftheunionwordcloudsfromwilsontoobama;_ ylt=Ar2KAQuX4tlOqa_EMqnTNHNH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2dGJ0 dDkzBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLW1hcHBpbm d0aGVz

State of the Union: Why the Middle East Won't Be the Focus Time.com /s/dailybeast/12028_stateoftheunionwordcloudsfromwilsontoobama;_ ylt=Ar2KAQuX4tlOqa_EMqnTNHNH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2dGJ0 dDkzBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLW1hcHBpbm d0aGVz

Environmental community anxiously awaits State of the Union Daily Caller /s/dailybeast/12028_stateoftheunionwordcloudsfromwilsontoobama;_ ylt=Ar2KAQuX4tlOqa_EMqnTNHNH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2dGJ0 dDkzBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARzbGsDLW1hcHBpbm d0aGVz

What Yahoo! readers want from the State of the Union
Phil Pruitt – Mon Jan 24, 10:51 am ET

Maybe "Tip" O'Neill got it wrong when he said, "All politics is local." Maybe the legendary speaker of the U.S. House should have said, "All politics is personal."

Yahoo! News asked members of the Yahoo! Contributors Network to share what they want to hear President Obama talk about in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, and their ideas were mostly personal — not selfish, not indifferent to others' needs — but personal. What Yahoo! contributors want to hear Obama propose is framed by who they are, what they are and, in some cases, where they are.

A lot of contributors included health care on their list, others included education, a few specifically mentioned cutting the deficit, and getting the economy on track got a lot of attention. Other issues ranged from domestic violence to Social Security to cooperation on Capitol Hill. The one issue that was mentioned by almost everyone — often passionately — was jobs.

The litany of issues discussed by the Yahoo! contributors illustrates what President Obama faces at 9 p.m. ET when he gives his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress and the American people.

How much can President Obama boast about having stabilized the economy when polls show jobs remain an urgent concern for so many? How much can he talk about cutting the deficit, when Medicare, jobs programs, education, veterans' benefits, programs for youths and any number of other costly items are at the top of so many personal lists, including those of Yahoo! contributors? How does he balance the Republicans' push for spending cuts with some Democrats' push for stimulus spending and taxes on the wealthy?

Here are excerpts from Yahoo! contributors' State of the Union suggestions. To read each contributor's complete piece, click through on one of the links below:

Home-schooling mom: Phyllis L. Smith Asinyanbi

Education: "I would like President Obama to require that all educators be trained on effectively integrating children with autism disorders into mainstream classrooms, as 1 in 150 children are now on the autism spectrum."

Jobs: "Currently, I'm looking for work, and I am optimistic I'll find a part-time job soon. In 2011, I would like Obama to give incentives to employers who hire poor, low-wage earners, train them on the job and pay them a living wage."

Retiree: Nora Beane

Medicare: "Most welcome would be a resounding restatement of Obama's own words from June 8: 'Your guaranteed benefits will not change. Medicare will continue to cover you the way it always has.' "

"In the year ahead, I would like the president to stand by these words, hold the line on health care and place his presidential veto firmly at the bottom of any legislation that threatens the security of our current health care program."

Congressional cooperation: "I would like to hear President Obama close his message on the State of the Union by picking up on the cue offered by Sen. Mark Udall, who called for all members of Congress to forget party affiliation, cross party lines and sit together as Americans at the State of the Union speech.

"How exhilarating it would be if the final words of the president challenged us all to look for opportunities in our communities to 'sit together,' to listen to one another and to begin to write a proud new chapter in American history."

Unemployed: Randy Hildebrand

Health care: "I would like President Obama to pay attention to those of us who fall through the health care cracks. Low-income, single-income households just cannot afford even the most basic of services. In his State of the Union address, I would like Obama to talk about putting the cost of health care on a sliding scale based on income, or I'd like to see full Medicaid benefits for the unemployed."

Jobs: "I would like Obama's State of the Union to address the 'overqualified' individuals. I would like Obama to admit there are many 'overqualified' job seekers with a wealth of knowledge and experience that would greatly benefit employers but who are having difficulty finding gainful employment. He should encourage employers to hire the 'overqualified' rather than have them continue their current practice of looking at a resumé, seeing a master's or Ph.D. degree and saying 'Next!' "

Small-business owner: Tamara McRill

Taxes: "The payroll tax credit, competitive wages, business and job growth, and economic development are subjects we are eagerly anticipating hearing President Barack Obama speak about on Tuesday. Where the president intends to steer the country on these issues will forecast the likelihood of our — and other small-business owners' — survival."

Jobs and wages: "It is our hope President Obama's State of the Union speech will address future income-tax breaks for small businesses, so we can retain full-time employees by paying a decent wage. We can currently only afford to pay $9 to $10 an hour, and we would like to be able to offer a starting hourly wage of $15 per hour for unskilled labor — which is competitive in our area — and more for experienced workers."

Single mom: Laura Lee Mcdermott

Health care: "I'm not opposed to paying something for health care, but I would like to see in 2011 a program that allows Americans to pay based on income. School lunch programs and Section 8 housing demonstrate this concept. I would like to hear President Obama talk in his address about relief that is immediately available (not in the obscure future) that allows individual uninsured persons to pay a fee that has been determined through qualifying applications."

Domestic violence: "I would like to hear President Obama talk about domestic violence, and I would ask him to consider promoting genuine rehabilitation for offenders. People who commit abuse to another person are people who have deep wounds themselves. Some abusers are willing to rehabilitate. In other cases, tougher laws may be required."

Retiree: Ted Sherman

Energy: "In his State of the Union address, I hope President Obama will declare emphatically that he'll break the stranglehold foreign oil producers have on the economy. America must quickly return to exploring for oil in areas where it will not have a negative effect on the ecology as we continue to develop nonfossil fuel and other clean-energy sources."

Iraq: "I hope President Obama's speech will include a definite plan and date to quickly end this endless war in Iraq. The president needs to map out a specific timetable — within a year — to remove troops from Iraq. At the same time, he should pay much more attention to the war in Afghanistan. Resources currently being used in Iraq should be directed at that conflict."

Stay-at-home mom: Melissa Matters

Jobs: "In the State of the Union address, I would like Obama to pinpoint additional measures the government will be taking to speed up the process of economic recovery. In 2011, I would like to know how many jobs will be created and in what professional areas will be the most growth."

Sex offenders: "In 2011, Obama needs to consider harsher prison sentences for sex offenders across the nation. If I ever move, I would like to know California isn't the only state with tough sex offender laws."

Military spouse: Jennifer Wright

Education: "We are a military family living in a rural community. Our school budgets have been cut so badly that our children's education is suffering. Each year we have to fight to keep our elementary school of about 50 children going. Our community needs its schools to have better budgets for education, and I would like Obama to speak about schools with low budgets getting raises in 2011."

Youth programs: "In addition to education, President Obama should address youth programs for small communities. Youth programs are an essential part of raising children to grow into responsible adults in the future. In rural communities like ours, there are literally no programs like Boys and Girls Clubs or Big Brothers and Big Sisters."

Veteran: Marie Anne St. Jean

Military retiree pay: "In his State of the Union address, I would like President Obama to discuss the retired military-pay issue with Congress and stress that all federal and military-pay increases should be held to the same standard across the board. Each group is struggling to live on the same economy; we shouldn't allow one group a raise while denying another."

Spending cuts: "I would like to hear Obama's speech implore the Congress to start in its own backyard when laboring over budget cuts. Freeze congressional pay hikes. Don't fund office makeovers. Slash expense accounts. We're all expected to live within our means, be it here in Chillicothe, Ohio, or on Capitol Hill."

College student: JC Torpey

Pell Grants: "I sincerely hope President Obama will explain why, for some students, the maximum Pell Grant award amount has decreased in spite of promises that the amounts would increase this year."

Tuition costs for private schools: "Obama should target private schools that constantly increase tuition and supply costs by introducing legislation that caps the amount of tuition schools charge per year."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclus...e-of-the-union

What Yahoo! readers want from the State of the Union
Phil Pruitt – Mon Jan 24, 10:51 am ET

Maybe "Tip" O'Neill got it wrong when he said, "All politics is local." Maybe the legendary speaker of the U.S. House should have said, "All politics is personal."

Yahoo! News asked members of the Yahoo! Contributors Network to share what they want to hear President Obama talk about in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, and their ideas were mostly personal — not selfish, not indifferent to others' needs — but personal. What Yahoo! contributors want to hear Obama propose is framed by who they are, what they are and, in some cases, where they are.

A lot of contributors included health care on their list, others included education, a few specifically mentioned cutting the deficit, and getting the economy on track got a lot of attention. Other issues ranged from domestic violence to Social Security to cooperation on Capitol Hill. The one issue that was mentioned by almost everyone — often passionately — was jobs.

The litany of issues discussed by the Yahoo! contributors illustrates what President Obama faces at 9 p.m. ET when he gives his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress and the American people.

How much can President Obama boast about having stabilized the economy when polls show jobs remain an urgent concern for so many? How much can he talk about cutting the deficit, when Medicare, jobs programs, education, veterans' benefits, programs for youths and any number of other costly items are at the top of so many personal lists, including those of Yahoo! contributors? How does he balance the Republicans' push for spending cuts with some Democrats' push for stimulus spending and taxes on the wealthy?

Here are excerpts from Yahoo! contributors' State of the Union suggestions. To read each contributor's complete piece, click through on one of the links below:

Home-schooling mom: Phyllis L. Smith Asinyanbi

Education: "I would like President Obama to require that all educators be trained on effectively integrating children with autism disorders into mainstream classrooms, as 1 in 150 children are now on the autism spectrum."

Jobs: "Currently, I'm looking for work, and I am optimistic I'll find a part-time job soon. In 2011, I would like Obama to give incentives to employers who hire poor, low-wage earners, train them on the job and pay them a living wage."

Retiree: Nora Beane

Medicare: "Most welcome would be a resounding restatement of Obama's own words from June 8: 'Your guaranteed benefits will not change. Medicare will continue to cover you the way it always has.' "

"In the year ahead, I would like the president to stand by these words, hold the line on health care and place his presidential veto firmly at the bottom of any legislation that threatens the security of our current health care program."

Congressional cooperation: "I would like to hear President Obama close his message on the State of the Union by picking up on the cue offered by Sen. Mark Udall, who called for all members of Congress to forget party affiliation, cross party lines and sit together as Americans at the State of the Union speech.

"How exhilarating it would be if the final words of the president challenged us all to look for opportunities in our communities to 'sit together,' to listen to one another and to begin to write a proud new chapter in American history."

Unemployed: Randy Hildebrand

Health care: "I would like President Obama to pay attention to those of us who fall through the health care cracks. Low-income, single-income households just cannot afford even the most basic of services. In his State of the Union address, I would like Obama to talk about putting the cost of health care on a sliding scale based on income, or I'd like to see full Medicaid benefits for the unemployed."

Jobs: "I would like Obama's State of the Union to address the 'overqualified' individuals. I would like Obama to admit there are many 'overqualified' job seekers with a wealth of knowledge and experience that would greatly benefit employers but who are having difficulty finding gainful employment. He should encourage employers to hire the 'overqualified' rather than have them continue their current practice of looking at a resumé, seeing a master's or Ph.D. degree and saying 'Next!' "

Small-business owner: Tamara McRill

Taxes: "The payroll tax credit, competitive wages, business and job growth, and economic development are subjects we are eagerly anticipating hearing President Barack Obama speak about on Tuesday. Where the president intends to steer the country on these issues will forecast the likelihood of our — and other small-business owners' — survival."

Jobs and wages: "It is our hope President Obama's State of the Union speech will address future income-tax breaks for small businesses, so we can retain full-time employees by paying a decent wage. We can currently only afford to pay $9 to $10 an hour, and we would like to be able to offer a starting hourly wage of $15 per hour for unskilled labor — which is competitive in our area — and more for experienced workers."

Single mom: Laura Lee Mcdermott

Health care: "I'm not opposed to paying something for health care, but I would like to see in 2011 a program that allows Americans to pay based on income. School lunch programs and Section 8 housing demonstrate this concept. I would like to hear President Obama talk in his address about relief that is immediately available (not in the obscure future) that allows individual uninsured persons to pay a fee that has been determined through qualifying applications."

Domestic violence: "I would like to hear President Obama talk about domestic violence, and I would ask him to consider promoting genuine rehabilitation for offenders. People who commit abuse to another person are people who have deep wounds themselves. Some abusers are willing to rehabilitate. In other cases, tougher laws may be required."

Retiree: Ted Sherman

Energy: "In his State of the Union address, I hope President Obama will declare emphatically that he'll break the stranglehold foreign oil producers have on the economy. America must quickly return to exploring for oil in areas where it will not have a negative effect on the ecology as we continue to develop nonfossil fuel and other clean-energy sources."

Iraq: "I hope President Obama's speech will include a definite plan and date to quickly end this endless war in Iraq. The president needs to map out a specific timetable — within a year — to remove troops from Iraq. At the same time, he should pay much more attention to the war in Afghanistan. Resources currently being used in Iraq should be directed at that conflict."

Stay-at-home mom: Melissa Matters

Jobs: "In the State of the Union address, I would like Obama to pinpoint additional measures the government will be taking to speed up the process of economic recovery. In 2011, I would like to know how many jobs will be created and in what professional areas will be the most growth."

Sex offenders: "In 2011, Obama needs to consider harsher prison sentences for sex offenders across the nation. If I ever move, I would like to know California isn't the only state with tough sex offender laws."

Military spouse: Jennifer Wright

Education: "We are a military family living in a rural community. Our school budgets have been cut so badly that our children's education is suffering. Each year we have to fight to keep our elementary school of about 50 children going. Our community needs its schools to have better budgets for education, and I would like Obama to speak about schools with low budgets getting raises in 2011."

Youth programs: "In addition to education, President Obama should address youth programs for small communities. Youth programs are an essential part of raising children to grow into responsible adults in the future. In rural communities like ours, there are literally no programs like Boys and Girls Clubs or Big Brothers and Big Sisters."

Veteran: Marie Anne St. Jean

Military retiree pay: "In his State of the Union address, I would like President Obama to discuss the retired military-pay issue with Congress and stress that all federal and military-pay increases should be held to the same standard across the board. Each group is struggling to live on the same economy; we shouldn't allow one group a raise while denying another."

Spending cuts: "I would like to hear Obama's speech implore the Congress to start in its own backyard when laboring over budget cuts. Freeze congressional pay hikes. Don't fund office makeovers. Slash expense accounts. We're all expected to live within our means, be it here in Chillicothe, Ohio, or on Capitol Hill."

College student: JC Torpey

Pell Grants: "I sincerely hope President Obama will explain why, for some students, the maximum Pell Grant award amount has decreased in spite of promises that the amounts would increase this year."

Tuition costs for private schools: "Obama should target private schools that constantly increase tuition and supply costs by introducing legislation that caps the amount of tuition schools charge per year."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_exclus...e-of-the-union

Obama and his imbalanced ledger
Calvin Woodward, Associated Press – 31 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The ledger did not appear to be adding up Tuesday night when President Barack Obama urged more spending on one hand and a spending freeze on the other.

Obama spoke ambitiously of putting money into roads, research, education, efficient cars, high-speed rail and other initiatives in his State of the Union speech. He pointed to the transportation and construction projects of the last two years and proposed "we redouble these efforts." He coupled this with a call to "freeze annual domestic spending for the next five years."

But Obama offered far more examples of where he would spend than where he would cut, and some of the areas he identified for savings are not certain to yield much if anything.

For example, he said he wants to eliminate "billions in taxpayer dollars we currently give to oil companies." Yet he made a similar proposal last year that went nowhere. He sought $36.5 billion in tax increases on oil and gas companies over the next decade, but Congress largely ignored the request, even though Democrats were then in charge of both houses of Congress.

A look at some of Obama's statements Tuesday night and how they compare with the facts:

OBAMA: Tackling the deficit "means further reducing health care costs, including programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit. Health insurance reform will slow these rising costs, which is part of why nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the health care law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit."

THE FACTS: The idea that Obama's health care law saves money for the government is based on some arguable assumptions.

To be sure, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated the law will slightly reduce red ink over 10 years. But the office's analysis assumes that steep cuts in Medicare spending, as called for in the law, will actually take place. Others in the government have concluded it is unrealistic to expect such savings from Medicare.

In recent years, for example, Congress has repeatedly overridden a law that would save the treasury billions by cutting deeply into Medicare pay for doctors. Just last month, the government once again put off the scheduled cuts for another year, at a cost of $19 billion. That money is being taken out of the health care overhaul. Congress has shown itself sensitive to pressure from seniors and their doctors, and there's little reason to think that will change.

___

OBAMA: Vowed to veto any bills sent to him that include "earmarks," pet spending provisions pushed by individual lawmakers. "Both parties in Congress should know this: If a bill comes to my desk with earmarks inside, I will veto it."

THE FACTS: House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has promised that no bill with earmarks will be sent to Obama in the first place. Republicans have taken the lead in battling earmarks while Obama signed plenty of earmark-laden spending bills when Democrats controlled both houses.

It's a turnabout for the president; in early 2009, Obama sounded like an apologist for the practice: "Done right, earmarks have given legislators the opportunity to direct federal money to worthy projects that benefit people in their districts, and that's why I've opposed their outright elimination," he said then.

___

OBAMA: "I'm willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits."

THE FACTS: Republicans may be forgiven if this offer makes them feel like Charlie Brown running up to kick the football, only to have it pulled away, again.

Obama has expressed openness before to this prominent Republican proposal, but it has not come to much. It was one of several GOP ideas that were dropped or diminished in the health care law after Obama endorsed them in a televised bipartisan meeting at the height of the debate.

Republicans want federal action to limit jury awards in medical malpractice cases; what Obama appears to be offering, by supporting state efforts, falls short of that. The president has said he agrees that fear of being sued leads to unnecessary tests and procedures that drive up health care costs. So far the administration has only wanted to pay for pilot programs and studies.

Trial lawyers, major political donors to Democratic candidates, are strongly opposed to caps on jury awards. But the administration has been reluctant to support other approaches, such as the creation of specialized courts where expert judges, not juries, would decide malpractice cases.

___

OBAMA: Praised the "important progress" made by the bipartisan fiscal commission he created last year.

THE FACTS: The panel's co-chairmen last month recommended a painful mix of spending cuts and tax increases, each of them unpopular with one constituency or another, including raising the Social Security retirement age, cutting future benefit increases, raising the gasoline tax and rolling back popular tax breaks like the mortgage interest deduction. But Obama has yet to sign on to any of the ideas, even though he promised when creating the panel that it would not be "one of those Washington gimmicks."

Obama missed another chance Tuesday night to embrace the tough medicine proposed by the commission for bringing down the deficit. For example, the president said he wanted to "strengthen Social Security for future generations" — but ruled out slashing benefits or partially privatizing the program, and made no reference to raising the retirement age. That left listeners to guess how he plans to do anything to salvage the popular retirement program whose trust funds are expected to run out of money in 2037 without changes.

___

OBAMA: As testament to the fruits of his administration's diplomatic efforts to control the spread of nuclear weapons, he said the Iranian government "faces tougher and tighter sanctions than ever before."

THE FACTS: That is true, and it reflects Obama's promise one year ago that Iran would face "growing consequences" if it failed to heed international demands to constrain its nuclear program. But what Obama didn't say was that U.S. diplomacy has failed to persuade Tehran to negotiate over U.N. demands that it take steps to prove it is not on the path toward a bomb. Preliminary talks with Iran earlier this month broke off after the Iranians demanded U.S. sanctions be lifted.

___

Associated Press writers Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Jim Drinkard, Erica Werner, Jim Kuhnhenn, Andrew Taylor, Stephen Ohlemacher and Robert Burns contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_state_...FjdGNoZWNrb2Jh

Shaky Healthcare Job Loss Estimates

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12635970

No stemming red ink: Federal deficit to hit $1.5T
Andrew Taylor, The Associated Press – 36 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Far from slowing, the government's deficit spending will surge to a record $1.5 trillion flood of red ink this year, congressional budget experts estimated Wednesday, blaming the slow economic recovery and last month's tax-cut law.

The report was sobering new evidence that it will take more than President Barack Obama's proposed freeze on some agencies to stem the nation's extraordinary budget woes. Republicans say they want big budget cuts but so far are light on specifics.

Wednesday's Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate the government will have to borrow 40 cents for every dollar it spends this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Tax revenues are projected to drop to their lowest levels since 1950, when measured against the size of the economy.

The report, full of nasty news, also says that after decades of Social Security surpluses, the vast program's costs are no longer covered by payroll taxes.

The budget estimates will add fuel to the already-raging debate over spending and looming legislation that would allow the government to borrow more money as the national debt nears the $14.3 trillion cap set by law. Republicans controlling the House say there's no way they'll raise the limit without significant budget cuts, starting with a government funding bill that will advance next month.

Democrats and Republicans agree that stern anti-deficit steps are needed, but neither Obama nor his resurgent GOP rivals on Capitol Hill are — so far — willing to put on the table cuts to popular benefit programs such as Medicare, farm subsidies and Social Security. The need to pass legislation to fund the government and prevent a first-ever default on U.S. debt obligations seems sure to drive the two sides into negotiations.

Though the analysis predicts the economy will grow by 3.1 percent this year, it foresees unemployment remaining above 9 percent.

Dauntingly for Obama, the nonpartisan agency estimates a nationwide jobless rate of 8.2 percent on Election Day in 2012. That's higher that the rates that contributed to losses by Presidents Jimmy Carter (7.5 percent) and George H.W. Bush (7.4 percent). The nation isn't projected to be at full employment — considered to be a jobless rate of about 5 percent — until 2016.

The latest deficit figures are up from previous estimates because of bipartisan legislation passed in December that extended George W. Bush-era tax cuts and unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and provided a 2 percentage point Social Security payroll tax cut this year.

That measure added almost $400 billion to this year's deficit, CBO says.

The deficit is on track to beat the record of $1.4 trillion set in 2009. The budget experts predict the deficit will drop to $1.1 trillion next year, still very high by historical standards.

Republicans focus on Obama's contributions to the deficit: his $821 billion economic stimulus plan, boosts for domestic programs and his signature health care overhaul. Obama points out that he inherited deficits that would have exceeded $1 trillion a year anyway.

The chilling figures came the day after Obama called for a five-year freeze on optional spending in domestic agency budgets passed by Congress each year.

Republicans were quick to blame Obama for the rising red ink. Rep. Jeb Hensarllng of Texas, chairman of the House Republican Conference, said the report "paints a picture that is more dangerous than most Americans could anticipate."

"What is our leader in the White House doing about it? Asking Congress to raise the debt ceiling, proposing new spending and sticking future generations with a multi-trillion dollar tab," Hensarling said.

Democrat Kent Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, pointed to a problem lawmakers are sure to keep facing:

"When the American people are asked what they want done and to prioritize what they want, they want the deficits and debt dealt with. But when they are asked very specifically, will they support changes in Social Security, the polls say no. Changes in Medicare? The polls say no. Changes in defense spending? The polls say no."

"I would've liked very much if the president would have spent a bit more time helping the American people understand how really big this problem is," added Conrad, D-N.D.

Republicans are calling for deeper cuts for education, housing and the FBI — among many programs — to return them to the 2008 levels in place before Obama took office.

But those nondefense programs make up just 12 or so percent of the $3.7 trillion budget, which means any upcoming deficit reduction package — at least one that begins to significantly slow the gush of red ink — will require politically dangerous curbs to popular benefit programs. That includes Social Security, Medicare, the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled, and food stamps.

Neither Obama nor his GOP rivals on Capitol Hill have yet come forward with specific proposals for cutting such benefit programs. Successful efforts to curb the deficit always require active, engaged presidential leadership, but Obama's unwillingness to thus far take chances has deficit hawks discouraged. Obama will release his 2012 budget proposal next month.

"The proposals we've seen so far from the president and congressional Republicans amount to little more than tinkering around the edges," said Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby.

"Somebody is going to have to bite the bullet and get this process going," said Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan group that advocates fiscal responsibility. "And that somebody has to be the president."

Obama has steered clear of the recommendations of his deficit commission, which in December called for difficult moves such as increasing the Social Security retirement age and reducing future increases in benefits. It also proposed a 15-cents-a-gallon increase in the gasoline tax and eliminating or scaling back tax breaks — including the child tax credit, mortgage interest deduction and deduction claimed by employers who provide health insurance — in exchange for rate cuts on corporate and income taxes.

CBO predicts that the deficit will fall to $551 billion by 2015 — a sustainable 3 percent of the economy — but only if the Bush tax cuts are wiped off the books. Under its rules, CBO assumes the recently extended cuts in taxes on income, investment and people inheriting large estates will expire in two years. If those tax cuts, and numerous others, are extended, the deficit for that year would be almost three times as large.

Tax revenues, which dropped significantly in 2009 because of the recession, have stabilized. But revenue growth will continue to be constrained. CBO projects revenues to be 6 percent higher in 2011 than they were two years ago, which will not keep pace with the growth in spending.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_budget...RlbW1pbmdyZQ--

No stemming red ink: Federal deficit to hit $1.5T
Andrew Taylor, The Associated Press – 36 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Far from slowing, the government's deficit spending will surge to a record $1.5 trillion flood of red ink this year, congressional budget experts estimated Wednesday, blaming the slow economic recovery and last month's tax-cut law.

The report was sobering new evidence that it will take more than President Barack Obama's proposed freeze on some agencies to stem the nation's extraordinary budget woes. Republicans say they want big budget cuts but so far are light on specifics.

Wednesday's Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate the government will have to borrow 40 cents for every dollar it spends this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Tax revenues are projected to drop to their lowest levels since 1950, when measured against the size of the economy.

The report, full of nasty news, also says that after decades of Social Security surpluses, the vast program's costs are no longer covered by payroll taxes.

The budget estimates will add fuel to the already-raging debate over spending and looming legislation that would allow the government to borrow more money as the national debt nears the $14.3 trillion cap set by law. Republicans controlling the House say there's no way they'll raise the limit without significant budget cuts, starting with a government funding bill that will advance next month.

Democrats and Republicans agree that stern anti-deficit steps are needed, but neither Obama nor his resurgent GOP rivals on Capitol Hill are — so far — willing to put on the table cuts to popular benefit programs such as Medicare, farm subsidies and Social Security. The need to pass legislation to fund the government and prevent a first-ever default on U.S. debt obligations seems sure to drive the two sides into negotiations.

Though the analysis predicts the economy will grow by 3.1 percent this year, it foresees unemployment remaining above 9 percent.

Dauntingly for Obama, the nonpartisan agency estimates a nationwide jobless rate of 8.2 percent on Election Day in 2012. That's higher that the rates that contributed to losses by Presidents Jimmy Carter (7.5 percent) and George H.W. Bush (7.4 percent). The nation isn't projected to be at full employment — considered to be a jobless rate of about 5 percent — until 2016.

The latest deficit figures are up from previous estimates because of bipartisan legislation passed in December that extended George W. Bush-era tax cuts and unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and provided a 2 percentage point Social Security payroll tax cut this year.

That measure added almost $400 billion to this year's deficit, CBO says.

The deficit is on track to beat the record of $1.4 trillion set in 2009. The budget experts predict the deficit will drop to $1.1 trillion next year, still very high by historical standards.

Republicans focus on Obama's contributions to the deficit: his $821 billion economic stimulus plan, boosts for domestic programs and his signature health care overhaul. Obama points out that he inherited deficits that would have exceeded $1 trillion a year anyway.

The chilling figures came the day after Obama called for a five-year freeze on optional spending in domestic agency budgets passed by Congress each year.

Republicans were quick to blame Obama for the rising red ink. Rep. Jeb Hensarllng of Texas, chairman of the House Republican Conference, said the report "paints a picture that is more dangerous than most Americans could anticipate."

"What is our leader in the White House doing about it? Asking Congress to raise the debt ceiling, proposing new spending and sticking future generations with a multi-trillion dollar tab," Hensarling said.

Democrat Kent Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, pointed to a problem lawmakers are sure to keep facing:

"When the American people are asked what they want done and to prioritize what they want, they want the deficits and debt dealt with. But when they are asked very specifically, will they support changes in Social Security, the polls say no. Changes in Medicare? The polls say no. Changes in defense spending? The polls say no."

"I would've liked very much if the president would have spent a bit more time helping the American people understand how really big this problem is," added Conrad, D-N.D.

Republicans are calling for deeper cuts for education, housing and the FBI — among many programs — to return them to the 2008 levels in place before Obama took office.

But those nondefense programs make up just 12 or so percent of the $3.7 trillion budget, which means any upcoming deficit reduction package — at least one that begins to significantly slow the gush of red ink — will require politically dangerous curbs to popular benefit programs. That includes Social Security, Medicare, the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled, and food stamps.

Neither Obama nor his GOP rivals on Capitol Hill have yet come forward with specific proposals for cutting such benefit programs. Successful efforts to curb the deficit always require active, engaged presidential leadership, but Obama's unwillingness to thus far take chances has deficit hawks discouraged. Obama will release his 2012 budget proposal next month.

"The proposals we've seen so far from the president and congressional Republicans amount to little more than tinkering around the edges," said Concord Coalition Executive Director Bob Bixby.

"Somebody is going to have to bite the bullet and get this process going," said Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan group that advocates fiscal responsibility. "And that somebody has to be the president."

Obama has steered clear of the recommendations of his deficit commission, which in December called for difficult moves such as increasing the Social Security retirement age and reducing future increases in benefits. It also proposed a 15-cents-a-gallon increase in the gasoline tax and eliminating or scaling back tax breaks — including the child tax credit, mortgage interest deduction and deduction claimed by employers who provide health insurance — in exchange for rate cuts on corporate and income taxes.

CBO predicts that the deficit will fall to $551 billion by 2015 — a sustainable 3 percent of the economy — but only if the Bush tax cuts are wiped off the books. Under its rules, CBO assumes the recently extended cuts in taxes on income, investment and people inheriting large estates will expire in two years. If those tax cuts, and numerous others, are extended, the deficit for that year would be almost three times as large.

Tax revenues, which dropped significantly in 2009 because of the recession, have stabilized. But revenue growth will continue to be constrained. CBO projects revenues to be 6 percent higher in 2011 than they were two years ago, which will not keep pace with the growth in spending.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_budget...RlbW1pbmdyZQ--