Potential Presidential Candidates Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) Dr. Ben Carson (R-FL) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR/FL) Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA/UT) Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD) Former Gov. Gary Johnson (L) Partisan Republican National Committee Democratic National Committee Libertarian National Committee Republican Jewish Coalition National Jewish Democratic Council Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

Assorted Interest Groups (alpha) 350.org American Federation of Teachers American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) American Road & Transportation Builders Assoc. American Petroleum Institute Americans for Prosperity Americans United for Change Family Research Council Managed Funds Association Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. National Education Association National Electrical Contractors Association National Federation of Independent Business National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association National School Boards Association Sierra Club

Potential Presidential Candidates

Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL)


Jan. 20, 2015 Facebook posting
We need to create economic opportunity for every American, especially middle class families and those trying to rise out of poverty. While the sluggish recovery has been good for some, far too many people have been left behind. It's unfortunate President Obama wants to use the tax code to divide us – instead of proposing reforms to create economic opportunity for every American. We can do better.

My friend Joni Ernst offered a great contrast, outlining a positive, conservative vision for reform. I hope President Obama will be mindful of the strong message American voters sent in November and will work with our new Congressional majority on achieving solutions we know have broad-based appeal.

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Dr. Ben Carson

Jan. 21, 2015 Tweet
"The President's State of the Union address was uplifting, particularly if one is not aware of the actual facts."

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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

[video]

Sen. Cruz: It's Time to Move On Beyond President Obama

Let's rekindle the miracle of America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today issued the following statement in response to the President’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight, America saw a powerful demonstration that it is time to move on beyond President Barack Obama. Just two months ago we had a national election, in which the American people spoke loud and clear and said the path we're on isn't working. The American people said the Obama economy isn't working, millions are hurting, and we want a different path.
 
“Previous presidents have been on the receiving end of crushing electoral losses in midterm elections. And previous presidents, when that has happened, have come with contrition and said to the American people and to the voters ‘I hear you, I hear your message, and we will change paths.’
 
“Tonight the President told the American voters not only does he not hear their message, but he intends to do precisely the opposite. He intends to double down on the failed policies of the last six years. He intends to have yet more and more government spending and taxes and debt and all of the policies that are hurting hardworking Americans.
 
“Tonight, not a word was said about radical Islamic terrorism. Those words did not come out of the President's mouth. We cannot win a war on radical Islamic terrorism with a President unwilling to even say the words ‘radical Islamic terrorism.’
 
“Tonight it was also striking: the President did not mention his illegal and unconstitutional executive amnesty. He issued that in defiance of the voters, in defiance of the Constitution, and in defiance of the law and yet when he stood at the State of the Union, he could not bring himself even to bring it up. It underscores the obligation of Republicans in Congress to honor the promises we made, to honor the promises number one: to stop the train wreck that is Obamacare and number two: to stop the President's illegal and unconstitutional amnesty.
 
“And it also underscores that even if this President is not willing to work in a bipartisan way, even if this President is not willing to help solve the fiscal and economic problems facing this country that it's time to move on. It's time to move beyond him and to focus instead on new and bold leadership to bring back jobs, to bring back economic growth, to bring back opportunity, to rekindle the miracle of America.
 
“That's what I saw tonight. Thank you and God bless you.”

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Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR/FL)

Gov. Mike Huckabee Responds to Pres. Obama's State of the Union

Huckabee: "There are two things certain about the Obama administration -
debt and taxes."

Little Rock, Ark. - Former Arkansas Governor and 2008 Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee issued the following response to President Obama's 2015 State of the Union:

 "There are two things certain about the Obama administration - debt and taxes. I'm not surprised that in this State of the Union address, President Obama will introduce another plan for more taxes.   

 "After growing our national debt by $7.5 trillion dollars since taking office, it's ridiculous for the president to propose $320 billion dollars in new taxes. Fortunately, the American people sent a resounding message of rejection to his liberal polices in November, and Republicans in the House and Senate will be able to push back on President Obama's big-spending agenda.  
also...
Jan. 21, 2015 Tweets
- "Like everything with Obama, last night's speech was all hat, no cattle."

- "4 things Obama didn't talk about last night: Fast&Furious, Benghazi, IRS Scandal and NSA spying. #SotuNoShows"

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
Response to State of the Union

Good Evening. I wish I had better news for you, but… All is not well in America. America is adrift. Something is clearly wrong.

America needs many things, but what America desperately needs is new leadership.

I’ve only been in office a short time, but one thing I’ve discovered is that there is no monopoly on knowledge in Washington.

The best thing that could happen is for us—to once and for all—limit the terms of all politicians. We already limit the President to two terms.

I think we should put limits on the terms of Congress and infuse our government with fresh ideas.

Before I ran for office, I practiced medicine for nearly 20 years in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Liberal elites fly over my small town, but they don’t understand us. They simply seek to impose their will upon us—from what insurance we can buy, to what light bulbs we can use, to how we generate electricity.

Most of us in flyover country, and I suspect many who live in our big cities, think those in government take us for granted. Those of us who are actively pursuing the American Dream simply want government to get out of our way.

For those of us who feel separated and distant from the American Dream, we don’t want be perpetually talked down to, forgotten, and left in perpetual poverty. Many are discouraged that the “gifts” offered by liberals have not generated wealth, but rather perpetuated poverty.

People want a way out—not fake concern and baubles.

The war on poverty is 50 years old, and still black unemployment is twice that of white unemployment.

Income inequality has worsened under this Administration, and tonight President Obama offers more of the same policies—policies that have allowed the poor to get poorer, and the rich to get richer.

Pitting one American against another is not a pathway towards prosperity.

The President is intent on redistributing the pie but not growing it. He misunderstands that the bulk of America wants a bigger pie.

They want to work and don’t want a handout—but a hand up.

Not only do we need new blood in Washington, we need a new way of thinking in Washington.

As a physician, I was taught first to do no harm:

To think before you act,

To analyze the unintended consequences of your actions.

I think America would be better off if all our politicians took that same approach: “First, do no harm.”

It is self-evident that the President and Congress are unable to do what every family in America must do—balance the budget.

If Congress cannot, or will not, balance the budget, then we should amend the Constitution to make it mandatory. President Obama is on course to add more to our national debt than all previous presidents combined. We borrow a million dollars a minute. Our $18 trillion dollar debt has become an anchor. Some economists argue that the burden of debt costs us a million jobs a year.

I fear that this enormous burden of debt threatens our currency. I fear that another 2008-style panic is possible, and I fear that this degree of debt is an imminent threat to our national security.

You cannot project power from bankruptcy court. It does not make us appear stronger when we borrow money from China and send it to countries that burn our flag. The hollowing out of our national defense comes from the advocates for unlimited spending and perpetual military intervention.

Secretary Gates got it right when he said that we’ve over-militarized our foreign policy. Should we be engaged in trying to encourage stability in the world? Absolutely. But we must think before we act. We must remember the maxim—first, do no harm.

Hillary’s war in Libya is a prime example of acting without thinking. Libya is now a jihadist wonderland. Jihadists swim in our embassy pool. Our Ambassador is dead, and we are now more at risk from terrorist attacks than ever before.

Unfortunately, both parties too often seek military intervention without thinking through the possible unintended consequences. Many Republicans only complain that we didn’t send U.S. ground troops or we didn’t stay long enough.

The Middle East lives in the midst of a 1,000-year war between Sunni and Shia. Superimposed on the long war is a century-old war pitting a barbaric aberration of Islam against civilized Islam.

We are foolish to believe we will solve this puzzle. We must defend ourselves and defend vital American interests, but we must not be deluded into believing that we can remake the Middle East in an image of Western Democracy.

At home, much of nation still suffers.

Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of two Americas. He described them as “two starkly different American experiences that exist side by side.”

In one America, people experienced “the opportunity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in all its dimensions.”

In the other America, people experienced a “daily ugliness” that dashes hope and leaves only “the fatigue of despair.”

Although I was born into the America that experiences and believes in opportunity, my trips to Ferguson, Detroit, Atlanta, and Chicago have revealed what I call an “undercurrent of unease.”

There is a tension that has become visible in the protests in every major American city. As Congressman John Lewis put it: “There is a growing discontent in this country. ”

I think peace will come when those of us who have enjoyed the American Dream become aware of those who are missing out on the American Dream. The future of our country will be secure when we break down the wall that separates us from “the other America.”

It is a noble aspiration and a moral obligation to make sure our fellow man is provided for, that medical treatment is made available to all.

But compassion cannot be delivered in the form of coercion.

President Obama’s fundamental promise that if you like your doctor you can keep them—was a lie.

Obamacare, at its core, takes away a patient’s right to choose. Under Obamacare, patients are prohibited from choosing their doctor or their insurance.

Today, more Americans may have medical insurance, but Americans are now paying more money for worse care.
The relationship between doctor and patient is withering.

Doctors are fleeing the profession they love. Hospitals are straining, closing, or refusing to accept Obamacare policies.

Everyone knows our health care system needed reforming, but it was the wrong prescription to choose more government instead of more consumer choice and competition.

Obamacare restricts freedom and must be repealed!

I was asked recently how we would fix our healthcare system. I replied, “Let’s try freedom again. It worked for over 200 years!”

The President tonight calls for higher taxes. I believe we should do the opposite. I propose we cut everyone’s taxes, from the richest to poorest, and we cut spending at the same time.

Imagine a private stimulus fed by allowing you to keep more of your own money!

Some will ask, “But what of the safety net?”

I say: We will not cut one penny from the safety net until we’ve cut every penny from corporate welfare!

So much of Washington’s inability to cut waste in government comes from them not doing their job. It has been several decades since Congress passed all the spending bills individually.

Instead, the spending bills are lumped together in something they call a “Cromnibus” that is thousands of pages long. They allow no amendments to cut wasteful spending. Often the bill is plopped on our desk with only a few hours to review. No one, and I mean no one, is able to read what is in the bill.

To fix this, I will introduce legislation called “Read the Bills Act.” It mandates that Congress wait one day for each 20 pages of legislation.

Congress should also live under the laws they pass.

I will introduce a Constitutional Amendment that Congress shall pass no law that exempts Congress from the requirements of the bill.

We have set up a privileged class in Washington, and Americans are sick and tired of it.

These elites say, “trust us, we won’t violate your privacy.”

But when the Intelligence Director is not punished for lying to Congress, how are we to trust them?

Are we to trust them to collect and hold every American’s phone records?

Remember, these are the same people who have only a 10 percent approval rating!

The Constitution is clear. Politicians should NOT collect this information without a warrant. Warrants must be specific to an individual and there must be probable cause before government is allowed to search any American’s documents.

The President created this vast dragnet by Executive Order without Congressional authority. He should immediately end this invasion of our privacy.

We need to return to our founding principles and stand up for the entire Bill of Rights.

To defend the Bill of Rights, we must have a strong national defense. I believe national defense is the single most important, Constitutional obligation of our Federal Government.

We should have a military that is second to none in the world, and ready to defend us from all enemies.

To defend ourselves, we need a lean, mean fighting machine that doesn’t waste money on a bloated civilian bureaucracy.

The civilian bureaucracy at the Pentagon has doubled in the past 30 years, gobbling up the money necessary to modernize our defense.

That’s why I will propose the first ever Audit of the Pentagon, and seek ways to make our defense department more modern and efficient.

Without leadership, our country is adrift — yet there is still much promise for the future of America.

Our future can include a road back to prosperity… back to respect at home and abroad.

It can include a balanced budget and a simple, fair tax system.

It can include a government that protects your rights and your security.

It can include a Congress that is responsive to YOU, the people, and not the special interests.

It can include a stronger, better military, where our troops and veterans are valued and taken care of.

It can include a plan to bring prosperity to our inner cities, and real justice to all Americans.

The path we are on now does not lead there. But there is time to change course.

This President tonight, and for the past six years, has had the wrong diagnosis for what ails our country.

I look forward to having a conversation with the American people about this throughout this next year.

Thank you, and God Bless America.

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Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA/UT)

Facebook posting:

True to form, the President in his State of the Union speech is more interested in politics than in leadership. More intent on winning elections than on winning progress, he ignores the fact that the country has elected a Congress that favors smaller government and lower taxes. Rather than bridging the gap between the parties, he makes "bridge to nowhere" proposals. Disappointing. A missed opportunity to lead.

His tax proposal is a maze of new taxes and complexities. The best way to lower the tax burden on all American families is straightforward: lower rates and simplify the tax code.

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Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

RUBIO COMMENTS ON STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding tonight’s State of the Union Address:
 
“President Obama tonight bragged about how the economy is doing better. But too many people are not experiencing it because they’re stuck between low wages and a high cost of living. To lift more Americans into the middle class, we need to move forward with a 21stcentury agenda that ensures an equality of opportunity, not one that doubles down on outdated proposals to tax and spend more. There’s no bigger priority for me than helping all of our people achieve the American Dream, and the only way that’s going to happen is by working together to bring our innovation economy, higher education system, retirement policies, safety net programs and national defense into the 21st century.
 
“The American people are long overdue to have a president stand before Congress and the nation and acknowledge reality: that the 20th century is gone. That taxing successful people, overregulating job creators and pouring more money into outdated government programs doesn’t actually help struggling people achieve the 21st century American Dream. That saying wars are over isn’t enough to keep us safe. That whether it be on the battlefield, in cyberspace or at the negotiating table, we need a strong and engaged America that stands up for our values and is ready to defeat those who threaten our way of life. And that implementing new immigration policies that haven’t even been passed into law only makes lasting reform more elusive.
 
“Instead of trying to manipulate our tax code to punish success, President Obama should work with Congress to fundamentally reform our tax code in ways that will grow our entire economy and provide relief to all families. Instead of rewarding repressive, anti-American regimes like Cuba and Iran with undeserved concessions that legitimize and enrich them, he should condition normalized relations on real, irreversible results that protect U.S. national security interests, safeguard human rights and ensure greater political freedoms.”
 

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Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)

Jan. 20, 2015 Tweets
- "President seems to measure success by how many people are dependent on the govt. We should measure success by just the opposite."

- "The President wants to grow the economy in Washington. We want to grow the economy in cities and towns and villages all across America."

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Graham, McCain Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address

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Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD)

Governor Martin O’Malley’s Statement on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C.—Governor Martin O’Malley released the following statement on the President’s State of the Union Address tonight:
 
“The biggest challenge we face as Americans is making our economy work again for all of us. The President's speech tonight reflected the urgency of that challenge. Eliminating tax preferences that benefit the very wealthy, expanding paid leave for working families, and investing in education will all help build a stronger middle class.
 
“The worst thing we could do is let recent economic progress be undercut by Republican efforts to undo critically important financial reforms, further tilt the tax code towards the wealthy and corporations, and roll back health care coverage for millions of Americans. Instead, we must focus on additional ways to bolster our middle class and working families—by strengthening workers' rights, boosting good-paying clean energy jobs, and reducing the influence of special interests in our political system.
 
“A stronger middle class is the cause—not the consequence—of economic growth. Our policy imperatives must reflect this basic economic truth.”

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Partisan

Republican National Committee

RNC Statement on the State of the Union Address   

 
“As the last election made clear, Americans want a less intrusive government that spends their money responsibly, yet tonight President Obama gave another speech calling for more taxes and more spending. Americans who listened to President Obama likely feel President Obama isn’t listening to them. 
 
“Instead of working with Republicans on bipartisan initiatives that are popular with the American people, he’s taking the same old go-it-alone approach on policy that has defined his presidency.  The way to grow the economy for the middle class is to have a simpler tax code to encourage innovation. Sending more money to Washington isn’t the answer. We should let families and states make decisions that are right for them. The tax code should be made simpler, fairer, and flatter. That’s good for economic growth and job creation. Tax reform could and should be a bipartisan pursuit, but again, the president has signaled he only wants to do it his way.
 
"The Democrats’ top-down, one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t work. President Obama should take up real bipartisan proposals that are already on the table—like building the Keystone Pipeline and restoring the 40-hour work week that ObamaCare destroyed. Of course, the president wants to tell Americans that we shouldn’t worry about the economy, but the truth is we still have the lowest labor force participation rate since the Carter years. More needs to be done to get more Americans into the workforce—and to create more opportunities for those already in the workforce. Republicans hope the president will join us in pursuing that goal."

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DNC Chair Rep. Wasserman Schultz Statement on the State of the Union

Washington, DC - DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement following President Obama’s State of the Union address:
 
“Tonight, President Obama used his State of the Union address to offer an assessment of where we are as a nation, remind us of the obstacles we’ve overcome in recent years, and provide a vision of where our nation is headed.
 
“It was exactly six years ago that President Obama was sworn into office. He inherited an economy that had been losing 750,000 jobs per month, the housing market’s bubble had burst, and the auto industry was in danger of collapsing.
 
“Under President Obama’s leadership, we put an end to the trickle down policies that failed and restored an emphasis on middle class economics. We experienced our 58th straight month of private sector job growth. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 2008. The auto industry is thriving once again and millions more Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.
 
“Now, it is our responsibility to ensure that all Americans can share in our success. We need to ensure that middle class families have their shot at the American dream; where every American has the peace of mind to know that when they get sick, they have health insurance, can afford to send their child to college and to retire with dignity.
 
“Republicans need to stop stacking the deck in favor of corporations and the wealthiest among us and against working families looking to get ahead. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans and the GOP’s 2016 hopefuls have shown little desire to work toward this goal. Instead of doubling down on failed, trickle-down economics that would reverse the progress we’ve seen, they should work with President Obama and Democrats in Congress to enact policies that put middle class families first.”
 
Libertarian National Committee

Arvin Vohra, Vice Chair of the National Libertarian Committee
Libertarian Party Response
January 20, 2015

[video]
Good evening. I'm Arvin Vohra, vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee.

Mr. President, in your State of the Union address, you propose to make Big Government even bigger.

You propose pouring more taxpayer dollars into another federal education program, this time for community colleges. But federal intervention has driven up the price of higher education.

What if we could make college affordable right now by simply getting government out of higher ed? Without subsidies and costly mandates, competition will force colleges to decrease their tuition or go out of business. Massive student debt would be a thing of the past.

Mr. President, we can have world-class education. The first step is defunding and eliminating the federal Department of Education, abolishing Common Core, and allowing parents to take full control over their children's education. Free-market competition will raise educational standards, lower costs, and prepare students to compete in a global economy.

Mr. President, your attempts to raise the minimum wage will destroy one of the most important forms of education in this country. Many young people develop responsibility and marketable skills in entry-level, minimum-wage jobs. Those skills make workers more attractive to future employers. 

The Republican answer, to leave the issue to the states, is a cop-out. All minimum wages kill jobs and hurt the poor. Libertarian candidates have pledged to sponsor legislation to eliminate the minimum wage in every state. That makes it easier for young people to gain experience, for the poorest workers to gain a foothold in the job market, and for small businesses to grow.

Here’s how we really grow the economy and create jobs: dramatically cut taxes and government spending. Libertarian candidates have pledged to sponsor legislation to cut federal spending to 1998 levels and eliminate the income tax. That means that you keep the money you earn, and spend it how you see fit: on charities and the arts, science research, education, and the health care of your choice.

Eliminating the income tax also defunds government's ability to infringe on our privacy, to create enemies through needless wars, and to imprison our fellow citizens for victimless crimes.

Mr. President, so many of your supporters have begged you to defund and end the War on Drugs, but you have refused their pleas. Drug prohibition separates families, fosters violence, and destroys communities. You can end the war on drugs today, by doing what so many Libertarian gubernatorial and presidential candidates have pledged to do: pardon all nonviolent drug offenders.

Libertarian candidates have pledged to completely end the war on drugs, and thereby eliminate the black market profits that fund violent cartels. Ending the Drug War will make our streets safer, and people will no longer have to fear incarceration if they seek help overcoming an addiction.

Mr. President, over the last weeks you have repeatedly argued that Americans should be able to go online without risking their privacy. On that, we completely agree. Americans should be able to use their computers and phones without fear of anyone listening in or recording their communications through mass surveillance. 

But your words, Mr. President, don’t match your actions. You have funded and enabled the surveillance state. To protect privacy, Libertarian candidates have pledged to defund the NSA's mass surveillance program, repeal the Patriot Act, and massively downsize and consolidate redundant spy agencies.

Mr. President, your party and the Republican Party are damaging lives here and abroad through misuse and overuse of the military.

Libertarian candidates have pledged to sponsor legislation to end all foreign military operations, shut down needless foreign bases, cut military spending by at least 60 percent, and bring our troops home.

Even after those spending cuts, we will still outspend both Russia and China combined. We will also be safer, because our military will be focused on defense. We will stop creating enemies through unwarranted military intrusions.

Republicans have talked about repealing and replacing Obamacare. With what? Romneycare? That will continue to damage businesses and make health care worse.

When Republicans controlled the House, they had the chance to defund Obamacare. They refused.

Libertarian candidates have pledged to completely repeal Obamacare along with the many laws that stand in the way of low-cost, high-quality health care.  Providers will compete for customers by lowering costs and increasing quality.

To help people in need, Libertarian candidates will make charitable hospitals legal. Doctors should not have to leave our borders to be able to offer free care.

We need to massively downsize and defund the federal government. But Republican and Democratic politicians only want to make it bigger. Get involved with the Libertarian Party in your state by going to LP.org, and by voting Libertarian.

Politicians can do one thing well: count votes. When you vote for a Democrat or Republican, it tells them, "Keep doing what you’re doing.” But when you vote for a Libertarian, it tells them, in no uncertain terms, "You have neither my approval nor my permission to grow or sustain Big Government. Shrink it now."

Thank you for listening. Let's bring liberty back to our communities and to the United States of America.

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Jewish Democrats Express Support for President Obama Following State of the Union

Washington, D.C. - Following President Barack Obama’s seventh State of the Union address, Jewish Democrats firmly stated their support of the president and his policy proposals for the coming year. The National Jewish Democratic Council praised the address, affirming its commitment to working with the administration throughout the final two years of President Obama’s term.

Greg Rosenbaum, chair of the NJDC Board of Directors, stated,

“Tonight, President Obama made clear that the policies proposed by his administration - progressive policies - are the best path forward for our country. Under the president’s leadership, our economy has seen 58 straight months of private sector employment growth, with 11.2 million private sector jobs created during that time. The tax reform proposals put forward tonight will only help to give all hard-working Americans a fair chance at success, and we look forward to working with the administration to make these plans a reality.

“Furthermore, we stand with the president on doing everything possible to give negotiations with Iran a fair opportunity. A nuclear-armed Iran would be a direct threat to the national security interests of the United States and would be an existential threat to Israel, but we have a responsibility to do everything possible to find a diplomatic solution before resorting to further sanctions and military action.

“We also applaud First Lady Michelle Obama for inviting Alan Gross and his wife Judy to join her as honored guests during tonight’s State of the Union. Alan’s journey home from his wrongful imprisonment in Cuba has been well-documented, and the First Lady’s honor is well-deserved.”

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

McConnell Comments on the President's State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the President’s State of the Union Address this evening:

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Assorted Interest Groups

350.org

 Response to 2015 State of the Union

In response to President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union address, 350.org Executive Director May Boeve issued the following statement:

“Tonight’s speech puts wind in the sails of Keystone XL opponents. President Obama laid out a clear case for climate action, and hit back hard against those who are sticking their heads in the sand. He said we need to think beyond a single pipeline, and made a strong case for developing sustainable, clean energy sources like wind and solar. The President is clearly beginning to think about his climate legacy, and he understands that it depends on rejecting Keystone XL.

Tonight’s speech is also a testament to the hard work of the millions of people who are a part of the growing climate movement. In 2011, there were no mentions of climate change in the State of the Union. This year, we saw four full paragraphs on the crisis, and zero mentions of clean coal or fracking. The 400,000 people who joined the People’s Climate March last September clearly made an impact, and our planet is better for it.

But our movement will not rest until this President matches the rhetoric with action, and that means leaving carbon in the ground for good. We can’t just say yes to clean energy–we also need to say no to dirty energy, reject new fossil fuel infrastructure, end fossil fuel subsidies, and transition away from dangerous practices like fracking across the country. Only then will this President be considered a true climate leader.”

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American Federation of Teachers

AFT President Randi Weingarten on President Obama’s
State of the Union Address

“Unions give workers the voice they need, and public education gives our children the opportunity they deserve.”

WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten’s statement on President Obama’s State of the Union address:
 
“Tonight, the president invoked our shared values, reminding us what unites us as a nation. He asked us to turn the page, to ensure shared prosperity, to pave the road to middle-class economics so that all who want a chance to succeed get that chance. He affirmed that every child in every neighborhood matters. And he reinforced that unions give workers the voice they need, and public education gives our children the opportunity they deserve. 
“All workers deserve a pathway to a good job with a living wage—one that covers the cost of healthcare and child care, and allows them to pay down exorbitant student loans, save for their retirement, provide the basic necessities for their family, like food and housing, and still have a little left over. Working families see that the economy is getting better, but too many have yet to feel it. That must change, and the president raised many ideas tonight to change it. We need to ensure that all families can climb the ladder of opportunity. And to do that, we need our government to reinvest in public education and support our educators. The tools the president advanced tonight—providing free community college and greater access to early childhood education, raising the minimum wage, offering child care and paid sick leave to parents—all will help if they are enacted.
“The president summoned us all to come together, to think bigger, to aim higher. That’s what the teachers, nurses and public workers, those who are and want to be the middle class in America, do every day. This is our credo. We want to do what’s best for our communities and our country. We want to reclaim the promise of America.”

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American Petroleum Institute

API highlights gaps in President Obama's remarks about oil and natural gas

WASHINGTON, January 20, 2015 – President Obama’s remarks about oil and natural gas in his 2015 State of the Union address fell short of acknowledging the true impact of our energy renaissance on the U.S. economy, said the American Petroleum Institute’s President and CEO Jack Gerard today.

“America’s energy renaissance has profoundly strengthened our economy and is helping the president fulfill many of his policy goals,” said Gerard. “But his speech did not even begin to tell the whole story.

“America is now a global energy superpower thanks to our oil and natural gas renaissance, but most of this development has occurred in spite of the federal government. Development on the federal lands under control of the administration has actually gone down consistently, and revenues from leasing also fell by over $1 billion in the last year. 

“America's oil and natural gas companies are largely owned by retirees and workers saving for retirement. In a tough economy, our energy renaissance has been a lifeline for the middle class.

“The president can reduce income inequality by committing to America’s oil and natural gas renaissance for the long-term. Our increased production in recent years has created millions of jobs and saved the average U.S. household $1,200 in 2012, and we pay an average salary seven times higher than the minimum wage.

“The private sector could invest more than $1 trillion in oil and gas infrastructure here in the U.S. by 2025. But, as we’ve seen with the political delays over the Keystone XL pipeline, our government is often the biggest obstacle to private investment in our economy. The government is standing in the way of jobs, economic growth, and America’s competitiveness.

“Oil and natural gas companies are leading the way to cut emissions without new and costly regulations that could actually complicate existing regulations. U.S. carbon emissions are close to 20-year lows thanks largely to natural gas, and methane emissions from hydraulic fracturing have fallen by 73 percent since 2011, according to the government’s own data. These reductions are expected to continue.”

API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.

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American Federation of Teachers
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2014
Contact: Marcus Mrowka

AFT President Randi Weingarten on President Obama’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON— Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on President Obama’s State of the Union address. Two AFT members joined first lady Michelle Obama to watch the address: Washington, D.C. Teacher of the Year Kathy Hollowell-Makle, and Antoinette Tuff, a DeKalb County, Ga. bookkeeper who talked down a shooter at the elementary school where she worked.

“We are a stronger nation when we champion opportunity, reward work and create a path to success for all of our citizens. The forward-seeking agenda that President Obama laid out tonight combats the economic inequality many working Americans face with real and practical solutions that raise people up—not deepen wealth divisions—by increasing the minimum wage and  putting Americans back to work in good jobs with family-friendly policies like paid sick leave, expanding early childhood education, making college affordable, and creating a new retirement savings program called MyRA. And by using the first words of his address to honor the dedication of teachers, the president highlighted the importance of educators and our schools in helping our children achieve their dreams. We cannot rest until we fully re-establish the steps on the ladder to opportunity and give working families a shot at the American dream. The president has heard the American people, and we now must heed his call for action.

“A vibrant economy and a high-quality public education system have been and always will be intertwined. It’s no coincidence that when our nation summoned the political will to launch a war on poverty 50 years ago, we not only slashed poverty rates, put Americans back to work and rebuilt communities, but also witnessed a rapid spike in student achievement that has yet to be repeated. The black-white reading gap alone shrank by two-thirds from the 1960s to the 1980s.

“While we can’t replicate today the same strategies employed 50 years ago, the American people need leaders willing to expand opportunity and help re-create a path to the middle class. We must build on what the president laid out tonight. It starts with investing in early childhood education, making college affordable, making public schools the center of communities, and, equipping students with essential life skills and offering multiple paths to graduation and the world of work through rigorous career and technical education programs. We need to reject sequestration and austerity, and invest in the services that keep our communities safe and vibrant and our families healthy. We need good jobs with living wages and opportunities for workers to develop new skills and compete in a changing workforce; unions can play an important role in both creating a highway to the middle class for workers, and partnering with government and the private sector to create career-ladder opportunities like we’ve done for paraprofessionals in New York City, Baltimore and elsewhere. We need to do more to ensure people have a secure retirement after a lifetime of hard work. We can create good jobs today and invest in our future by putting Americans back to work rebuilding our infrastructure. And we need to stop just debating it and finally pass comprehensive immigration reform to end exploitation and strengthen our economy.

“The American people expect and deserve their leaders to act on their behalf to move an agenda the expands economic opportunity and reclaims the promise of public education for all children. With too many families still feeling the sting of an economy tilted against them, we simply can’t wait.”

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Copyright © 2015 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action. All rights reserved.