In State Of The Union, Obama To Abandon Sweeping Policy Proposals For Thematic Approach
Recognizing the futility of sweeping changes during a sharply partisan election year, the president will use the speech as a way to campaign for those on the ballot in 2016. “Last year, he spoke to Congress,” said Jennifer Psaki, the White House communications director. “This year, he’ll be speaking more to the American public.”
The New York Times:
Obama’s Last State Of The Union Address Aims To Set Tone For ’16 Campaign
For the final time, President Obama will mount the rostrum in the House chamber on Tuesday to deliver a State of the Union address. But this time, aides said, he will not bring with him a long list of proposals that will languish in Congress. Instead, Mr. Obama plans a thematic message that effectively will be as much a campaign agenda as a governing document. ... Among the ideas being discussed [as a centerpiece for the speech] was a new “moon shot” to cure cancer, sought by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., whose son Beau died of brain cancer last year. Mr. Biden at one point hoped to include a major new initiative in the State of the Union, but it has taken time to sort through the options and create a plan, so while it will be referred to in the speech, the vice president will wait to make a major rollout in the next few weeks. (Baker, 1/10)
The Associated Press:
Obama’s State Of Union Proposals Often Hit Wall In Congress
No doubt, Obama had numerous high-profile victories in 2015. He got Republicans in Congress to go along with more spending, killed the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, and his health care law lives on despite Republican-led efforts to repeal it. He also secured international agreements designed to curb global warming and stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. But efforts that required congressional cooperation often proved DOA. (Freking, 1/11)
