Minimum Wage Center Stage in SOTU
Minimum wage centerpiece of 2014 agenda. CNN: "[President Obama] asked Congress to get on board with a Democratic proposal to raise the federal minimum to $10.10 per hour. But he also urged everyone from companies to small businesses, mayors, governors and state legislators not to wait for Congress ... Obama also promised an executive order to raise the minimum wage for some government contract workers. While the action is relatively narrow and affects less than half a million people, the hope is that this will spur Congress to follow suit for all low-wage workers in the U.S. ... If the legislation passed, a full-time minimum wage worker would see a bump in pay from about $15,000 a year to roughly $21,000. That could lift a family of three above the poverty line.
The increase directly and indirectly could raise pay for up to 28 million workers..."
Obama announces 12 executive actions in SOTU. "Raising the Minimum Wage through Executive Order to $10.10 for Federal Contract Workers ... A New Starter Savings Account to Help Millions Save for Retirement ... four new [manufacturing] institutes through executive action this year ... Government-wide Review of Federal Training Programs ... the President will convene a group of CEOs and other leaders around supporting best practices for hiring the long-term unemployed ..."
And urges passage of infrastructure legislation. The Hill: "Lawmakers in the House and Senate are currently conferencing on an $8.2 billion bill to boost ports and waterways known as the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The chambers are also in the early stages of considering a renewal of the current surface transportation bill, which authorizes the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax that pays for most federal transportation projects. There is an approximately $20 billion shortfall between the amount of revenue the gas tax brings and the $54 billion per year that is currently being spent by the federal government on road and transit projects. Obama suggested on Tuesday night that lawmakers 'take the money we save with this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes...'"
Obama to highlight state-level minimum wage initiatives. AP: "The stop at a Costco in Lanham, Md ., will also give Obama an opportunity to highlight efforts that many states are undertaking to try to improve wages for their workers. Maryland's Democratic governor is pushing to raise the state's minimum wage to $10.10."
Wage Initiative May Shape 2014 Elections
"Obama’s Income-Gap Message Frames Race for Senate Control" reports Bloomberg: "The president’s message is designed to shore up his support among Democrats rather than winning over the independent voters who decide most elections, said Whit Ayres, a Virginia-based Republican polling consultant ... Democratic polling expert Geoff Garin ... countered that Obama’s message will be a strong one because Americans increasingly think it’s hard to stay in the middle class and even harder to get there ..."
Minimum wage push helps win over Denver swing voters in Democracy Corps focus group: "The President did what he needed to do on the most important measure—these voters in Denver left the speech feeling much more optimistic about President Obama’s direction than they were a few short months ago. As always, they remain concerned about Washington’s ability to get things done ... Voters responded most positively to the President’s calls to raise the minimum wage ... Lines among Democrats and unmarried women spiked to 80 and Republican lines jumped to 60 ... The President’s strong support for paycheck fairness was met with intense and near universal approval ..."
Obama Puts Immigration In GOP's Court
"Boehner must decide on immigration" reports The Hill: "The Speaker has said the House must tackle immigration reform, but it’s no guarantee that the leadership will go any further than releasing broad ideas if members react negatively this week. Asked on Tuesday if he could guarantee the GOP would move forward with legislation this year, Boehner pointedly declined to say ... the principles are likely to call for specific triggers on border and interior security that would occur simultaneously with the process by which immigrants can gain legal status, such as the achievement of certain enforcement metrics and the implementation of a new E-Verify system for employers. But if the triggers significantly delay the initial legalization process too long, Democrats will oppose the proposal and doom its chances on the floor."
Republicans divided on whether immigration will help or hurt in 2014. Bloomberg: "'There’s absolutely no doubt that an immigration push is going to divide the Republican Party and take the focus off Obamacare,' said Dan Holler, spokesman for Heritage Action ... Republican pollster Whit Ayres ... said the immigration debate shouldn’t overshadow the party’s message on Obamacare. 'Obamacare is a winning issue, but normally there is more than one winning issue in a good campaign,' Ayres said. 'Fixing a horribly broken immigration system is good for the country in the long run, and good for the Republican Party in the long run.'"
Natural Gas Inclusion in Climate Plan Divides Enviros
Natural gas included in Obama's climate plan. National Journal: "In a 'fact sheet' distributed alongside the speech, the White House called on Congress to help create 'sustainable shale gas growth zones [in which] regions come together to make sure shale gas is developed in a safe, responsible way' ... As part of his promotion of natural gas, the White House said Obama would propose new incentives for medium- and heavy-duty trucks to run on natural gas or other alternative fuels. Obama said Congress can create jobs by 'building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas.'"
Some enviro groups lament. The Hill: "While applauding Obama's comments on climate change, the Sierra Club and 350.org blasted the president for promoting the fossil fuel. 'President Obama says he recognizes the threat of climate change, but he sure doesn't act like it,' said May Boeve, executive director of 350.org. 'If he was serious, he'd reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and stop promoting fossil fuels like natural gas.' ... 'We can't drill or frack our way out of this problem,' said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. 'Make no mistake -- natural gas is a bridge to nowhere.'"
Other enviros praise commitment to new climate regs. Politico: "A coalition of several liberal and environmental groups, including the Center for American Progress and the Natural Resources Defense Council, said they were pleased Obama stuck to his guns on his climate plan, including the EPA’s power plant rules."
Debt Limit Likely To Be Raised Easily
"GOP ready to surrender on debt ceiling" reports Politico: "The most senior figures in the House Republican Conference are privately acknowledging that they will almost certainly have to pass what’s called a clean debt ceiling increase in the next few months, abandoning the central fight that has defined their three-year majority ... At least a dozen Republican aides and lawmakers are highly skeptical they will be able to craft something that will attract the support of 217 GOP lawmakers. In short, Republicans have few options and even less time ... Republicans might tack something onto legislation in an opening gambit, but observers would be wise to ignore it: It’s mostly just theater."
Conservatives don't want to give up. National Journal: "But many conservatives, who insist that they will not give the Obama administration another debt ceiling increase without getting anything in return, are growing increasingly concerned that Republican leadership isn't in their corner."
