Obama promises a ‘year of action’
State of the union address warns of unilateral action to effect policy
WASHINGTON — Promising a “year of action,” U.S. President Barack Obama announced Tuesday in his state of the union address that he will bypass Congress and take unilateral action to implement a broad range of policy initiatives unless lawmakers agree to his agenda.
He said the U.S. government has for several years been “consumed by a rancorous” debate over the size of the federal government. “When that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most basic functions of our democracy — when our differences shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States — then we are not doing right by the American people.”
“America does not stand still — and neither will I,” he continued. “So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Speaking for more than an hour, he said a significant part of his program will be to target the growing income gap between the rich and literally everybody else that, government figures show, is swelling the ranks of the poor and threatening the middle class.
“Inequality has deepened,” he said. “Upward mobility has stalled. The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by — let alone get ahead. And too many still aren’t working at all.”
“Opportunity is who we are,” he added. “And the defining project of our generation is to restore that promise.”
Firing his first shot across the congressional bow, he started the day by issuing an executive order raising the minimum wage, to $10.10 from $7.25, for employees of federal contractors. These include, for example, civilian workers who service federal buildings and military bases.
“No one who works full time should ever have to raise a family in poverty,” he said.
He urged Congress to extend the hike to all Americans. “Give Americans a raise,” he said to great applause from Democrats.
Obama has been calling for an increase in the minimum wage, which for years has been below the poverty line, since 2008. The Republicans have refused, claiming — wrongly, according to most economists — it would result in job losses.
The White House believes an increased minimum wage will help pull people out of poverty and grow the economy. Low-income workers are more likely than wealthy people to spend every extra dollar they earn. U.S. consumer spending is responsible for 70 per cent of the economy.
Obama promised he will take executive action to create a “starter” retirement fund for all Americans and a series of job-creating programs. In addition, he called on Congress to broaden access for the disadvantaged to pre-education and college. He will also act unilaterally, if necessary, to instigate immigration reform, infrastructure development and stronger environmental regulations.
“Immigration reform will grow our economy by more than $1 trillion over the next two decades,” he said. “And for good reason: when people come here to fulfil their dreams — to study, invent, and contribute to our culture — they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everyone.”
While budgeting remains the exclusive prerogative of Congress, Obama essentially can do what he wants. The courts will decide if his actions are legal.
To date, Obama has been reluctant to use the full authority of his office, preferring to take what he considers to be the more democratic route through Congress. But last year the Republicancontrolled House passed only two of 41 Obama’s legislative initiatives. Ending the 16-day partial government shutdown and renewing the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 were his two successes.
Obama has used executive power sparingly in the past to strengthen greenhouse gas emission regulations and in some areas of the immigration law.
With midterm congressional elections looming in November and an approval rating that slipped 11 points to 44 per cent since last year’s address, Obama has to find a way to show that he can tackle the country’s problems. As he embarks on his new take-charge approach, he can take comfort from at least one heartening note. Voters dislike Congress and the Republicans even more than they dislike him. Approval of Congress is at a record low 13 per cent and only 24 per cent for the Republicans.
Obama also said he intends to go directly to business and local government to seek consensus on a broad range of economic issues designed to restore vitality to the middle class. Later this week he is scheduled to meet with the CEOs of major corporations, who, he says, have agreed to stop discriminating against the long-term unemployed.
He also called on Congress to grant legal status to the country’s 11.4 million undocumented immigrants. Many of them work in agriculture, construction and the service industry, playing a significant roll in propping up the economy.
The past year witnessed an almost total rejection of the agenda Obama outlined in 2013. Gun control, immigration reform and tax reform never made it past the start line. There is general recognition that Obama is running out of time particularly since the Democrats might lose the Senate in November’s midterm elections.
“I intend to keep trying, with or without Congress,” he said.
Deficit reduction was a major part of Obama’s state of the union address last year, but this time he referred to it only in passing. Obama indicated in his speech he is more interested in boosting the economy than worrying about a deficit.
On his international agenda, Obama said he intends to continuewiththewithdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Obama also addressed the more promising issue of Iran. He said a diplomatic settlement to restrict its nuclear program and to establish normal relations would go a long way in easing tensions across the Middle East. He threatened to veto any bill that brought new sanctions against Iran while negotiations continue.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who gave the Republican response, said Obama’s promises “sound good but won’t actually solve the problems facing America.”