Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW New program helps out-of-work Ashlanders find jobs ... One of three downtown beautification projects OK'd ... What is 'public art' and why should Ashland want it? ... New program helps out-of-work Ashlanders find jobs ... One of three downtown beautification projects OK'd ... What is 'public art' and why should Ashland want it? ... Amy Gehrt: President Obama not finished just yet Comment By Amy Gehrt More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Amy Gehrt More Content Now Posted Jan. 23, 2015 at 7:48 AM By Amy Gehrt More Content Now Posted Jan. 23, 2015 at 7:48 AM » Social News In the aftermath of the midterm elections, there were people who predicted President Barack Obama would fade into the background, his presidency effectively over. They were wrong. The change has been obvious in the last few months, as the somber, seemingly weary president seen in the run-up to the election has transformed back into the confident commander-in-chief who captured so many Americans’ hearts and minds — not to mention their all-important votes. Nowhere has that been more clear, perhaps, than in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Riding a wave of enthusiasm reflected in a rising approval rating — 50 percent, according to the most recent Washington Post/ABC News poll, the highest it has been in more than 18 months — and increased confidence in the economy, the Obama who addressed the American public, and a Republican-controlled Congress in both chambers for the first time in his tenure, was relaxed and self-assured. “Tonight, we turn the page” on years of economic woes, drawn-out wars and terrorism, the president declared. “The shadow of crisis has passed. The state of the union is strong.” Touting the economic gains made during his administration — unemployment has dropped to 5.6 percent, gross domestic product growth is surging and in the last five years, 11 million private-sector jobs have been gained — Obama at one point stopped, turned to the dour-faced Republicans in the room and said, with a wink, “This is good news, people.” “At every step, we were told our goals were misguided or too ambitious; that we would crush jobs and explode deficits,” he said. “Instead, we’ve seen the fastest economic growth in over a decade, our deficits cut by two-thirds, a stock market that has doubled, and health care inflation at its lowest rate in 50 years.” But, Obama noted, while the economy is recovering, the wealth gap is increasing, wages have stagnated and the recovery isn’t being felt by many hard-working Americans. “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,” he said. “It’s now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years, and for decades to come,” he said. “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?” Making his case for his new policy proposals, the president called on Congress to increase taxes on the wealthy, provide more education and child-care tax credits, make community college free for most students and help 43 million working Americans finally earn paid sick leave. “Of course, nothing helps families make ends meet like higher wages,” Obama noted. “That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. Really. It’s 2015. It’s time. “We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.” The president also spoke of the vital role veterans play, and he highlighted the national program First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden launched to help vets and their spouses find employment as civilians. That campaign has, at last count, helped nearly 7,000 land new jobs. In addition, Obama made a case for his foreign policy agenda, pressing for authorization for a “smarter” campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, calling for continued negotiations with Iran before imposing new sanctions and seeking a new, more effective strategy with Cuba. Progressive priorities also got a presidential push Tuesday. Reiterating the need for more action to combat climate change — a cause that has been getting high-profile support from even some conservative voices lately, including Pope Francis and likely GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney ­— Obama told the nation that climate change was the biggest threat future generations face. “I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act,” he said. “Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what — I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and NOAA, and at our major universities.” “The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate,” the president said, “And if we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict and hunger around the globe. “The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it.” Pekin Daily Times city editor Amy Gehrt may be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @AmyGehrt. The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Pekin Times. By Amy Gehrt More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Amy Gehrt More Content Now Posted Jan. 23, 2015 at 7:48 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501