State of the Union Predictions

President Obama will use this year’s State of the Union address to build on topics he has previously discussed in his re-election campaign.  The annual speech before Congress will focus on an equal economy and other difficult issues the president as spoken of.

House Speaker John Boehner, Republican from Ohio, said in a letter inviting Obama to the State of the Union address the people are waiting to see that Congress and Obama can come together to solve America’s problems and make us a greater nation.

“Our nation continues to face immense challenges, and the American people expect us to work together in the new year to find meaningful solutions," Boehner said.

Potential topics being covered in this year’s SOTU include:

• Job creation
• Immigration law
• Protecting the middle class
• Reducing the deficit and debt
• Gun control
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The president has brought these issues to attention in his attempt to revive the economy since the recession.  Job growth is a top priority to continue during his next term though it has been quite successful already.  This is particularly seen in professional services, health care and manufacturing according to a study by CNN, which found the Labor Department had recovered about 4 million jobs overall during Obama’s first term.

Immigration law is also a top priority because it focuses on the businesses hiring undocumented workers and those who are in American illegally as well.

“We have to deal with the 11 million individuals who are here illegally. We all agree that these men and women should have to earn their way to citizenship. But for comprehensive immigration reform to work, it must be clear from the outset that there is a pathway to citizenship,” Obama said on his website BarackObama.com.

            While immigration law is part of the equal rights fight in America, so is the fight for the middle class in the nation.  In protecting the middle class Obama plans to revamp the tax code, reform schools and reduce health care.  Middle-income families have already been protected since the Bush tax cuts have been restored but he may introduce other measure to protect them.

            Obama may also bring up protecting those depending on Social Security and Medicare by finding other ways to reduce the deficit and debt.  According to WhiteHouse.Gov Obama’s plan to “Reduce the Deficit and Win the Future” includes:

• Domestic spending cuts
• Build on bipartisan budget agreement, with the largest government reduction in government spending ever.
• Cut non-security spending levels consistent with the bipartisan deficit commission.
• Security spending cuts
• Hold growth in base security spending below inflation, while further improving efficiency and effectiveness.
• Health care costs
• Bend the long-term cost curve for Medicare.
• Make Medicaid more flexible, efficient and accountable.
• Tax reform
• Close loopholes and produce a tax system that is simpler, fairer and not rigged in favor of those who can game it.
• Reduce tax expenditures enough to lower rates and lower the deficit.
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Another top priority Obama may focus on is reducing gun violence and protecting children and communities by implementing stricter gun control.

“Every step we intend to take will preserve the tradition of responsible gun ownership in our country and uphold the Second Amendment. And while we'll never end gun violence entirely, if we can save the life of even one child, then we have a responsibility to act,” Obama said.

According to BarackObama.com, Obama has “called on Congress to act on four specific legislative measures: losing background check loopholes, banning military-style assault weapons and limiting high-capacity ammunition magazines, making our schools safer, and increasing access to mental health services.”

These issues have been looked over many times, and this year America hopes to see progress within them.  All of these initiatives will be difficult to pass but America expects to hear Obama’s plan and solutions for them, as well as become a team with Congress.  The SOTU will be held on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, Feb. 12 at 9 p.m. EST.