TODAY 3 PM ET: Post-State Of The Union Webcast with Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Click here to register: "Join Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future, Progressive Majority President Gloria Totten and special guest Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a leader in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, as they look at President Obama’s State of the Union address through a progressive lens. During this webcast they will offer strategies for winning the fights that are expected in the coming months, and take your questions."
"Middle-Class Economics Works" Obama Declares In SOTU
Obama identifies income gap as next challenge after economic recovery. Bloomberg: "'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?' ... [But the] headline elements of Obama’s proposals, such as free access to community college, higher taxes for the wealthiest Americans to fund tax credits for middle-income families and requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, hold little appeal for Republicans."
Pledges vetoes of bills that undermine his reforms. Bloomberg: "'We can’t put the security of families at risk by taking away their health insurance, or unraveling the new rules on Wall Street, or re-fighting past battles on immigration when we’ve got a system to fix,' Obama said. 'If a bill comes to my desk that tries to do any of these things, it will earn my veto.' ... Despite Obama’s veto threat, he has signed broad bills in recent weeks that included rollbacks of Dodd-Frank."
Speech proves "populism has gone mainstream," reports Bloomberg: "'We’ve seen a rhetorical shift from some Republican candidates for president in 2016. Tonight the president called their bluff and said here’s my agenda for addressing income inequality,' said Seth D. Harris, a former acting Labor secretary..."
GOP response shows discomfort with immigration: "...freshman Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida delivered the Republicans' Spanish-language response to President Obama's State of the Union address. His remarks initially were billed as a translation of Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst's official GOP response. That put the GOP in an awkward spot, as Mother Jones first reported on Tuesday: Ernst has long been a proponent of making English the official language of US government communications ... While Ernst's speech included comments about abortion politics, Curbelo instead touted the need for immigration reform ... [Ernst] has said that she couldn't support a bill that offered 'amnesty'..."
What Was Left Out
Doesn't mention upcoming rule on overtime pay. Politico: "...how many middle-class workers the Labor Department’s coming proposed rule would reach remains a matter of contention ... 'It seems like they’re really struggling with what the level of the salary threshold should be … there’s a lot of discomfort [on the left] with the levels they’re talking about,' said Seth Harris..."
Or calls for a gas tax hike. The Hill: "Transportation advocates have pushed for an increase in the 18.4 cent-per-gallon tax to help pay for infrastructure projects, and the idea has picked up some steam on Capitol Hill, as gas prices have declined sharply in recent months. Obama stuck to his previous proposals of closing corporate tax loopholes to pay for transportation projects, however. "
Obama Creates Rift On Trade
Progressives break with Obama on trade. Bloomberg: "The Communications Workers of America said they support many of Obama’s initiatives but wouldn’t stand with the president 'to send more U.S. jobs offshore.' AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka applauded Obama’s initiatives on taxes and wages, but added 'our opposition to fast-track trade deals that are giant giveaways to big corporations must be resolute.' Representative Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, announced a press conference for Wednesday in which fellow party members would demonstrate a lack of support for fast-track authority."
More from Politico: "'The one bad note was another job-killing, job-exporting free trade agreement...' [said Rep. Peter DeFazio] ... 'I was looking for the president to explain to me why this is going to be different than the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1994,' said Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison ... 'I’m not convinced.' ... Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown gave the president high praise for changing 'the debate on tax reform.' ... But when asked about Obama’s trade talk, Brown said, 'I didn’t like it.'"
While Rep. Paul Ryan praises trade push. The Hill: "'I agree with every word in his speech in respect to trade and Asia and getting in there and helping write the rules instead of China writing the rules,' he said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
