2015-01-21 08:25:00

President Obama gives his annual State of the Union Address


(Vatican Radio)  United States President Barack Obama handed the United States Congress a list of proposals on Tuesday evening during his annual State of the Union Address.

“The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong,” said President Obama.

The United States Constitution requires the President to present both Houses of the US Congress – the House of Representatives and the Senate – a report on the State of the Union each year.  For decades, it has become one of the grandest political theatres in US politics, and an occasion for US presidents to present their agenda for the year.

"At this moment — with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry and booming energy production — we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth,” Mr. Obama said.

“It's now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next fifteen years, and for decades to come. 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?" he continued.

Obama also asked the US Congress for trade promotion authority, and the authorization for the use of force against ISIL Islamist militants in Syria and Iraq.

He also turned his attention to the Western hemisphere, and called for an end to the embargo against Cuba.

“When what you’re doing doesn’t work for fifty years, it’s time to try something new,” the President said. “Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere; removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba; stands up for democratic values; and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people.”

Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress and the majority of state governorships and legislatures, questioned the President’s plans, especially their cost.

"Obama claims his budget is practical, not partisan — what about it being balanced?" Kentucky Senator Rand Paul tweeted.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker also took to twitter to question Mr. Obama: "The President wants to grow the economy in Washington. We want to grow the economy in cities and towns and villages all across America."

Speaker of the House John Boehner is the person President Obama needs to work with to pass his proposals, and he was not impressed with the President’s agenda.

"Finding common ground is what the American people sent us here to do, but you wouldn't know it from the president's speech tonight,” Mr. Boehner said. “While veto threats and unserious proposals may make for good political theater, they will not distract this new American Congress from our focus on the people's priorities."








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