City, State and Nation — January 25, 2012
President Delivers State of the Union Before Divided Congress
In front of a still deeply-divided and quarrelsome Congress, President Barack Obama presented perhaps the most important State of the Union address of his administration.
Obama made Congressional reconciliation a major talking point in his election-year address, again making a plea for both Democrats and Republicans to put down hot-blooded disagreements in order to accomplish more on Capitol Hill in 2012.
“Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days,” Obama said. “A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything, even routine business, passed through the Senate.”
Obama said both parties should work together to resolve issues.
“Neither party has been blameless in these tactics. Now both parties should put an end to it,” he said.
The President also outlined his plans to help keep American manufacturing jobs in the U.S. by eliminating tax deductions for companies that outsource jobs and industry and offering tax cuts and tax deductions for companies that keep jobs in the nation.
“It is time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America,” he said.
In the educational sector, Obama made it clear a top priority is to cap and ultimately reduce the amount of student loans for college students.
“At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July,” he said in reference to the congressional student loan bill that would increase interest rates on student loans to 6.8 percent this July.
Obama also proposed all states mandate their students to remain in high school until either they graduate or turn 18.
“We also know that when students don’t walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma,” he said. “When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better.”
In addition to increasing government subsidies toward natural gas and other clean energy technologies, the President called for a drastic facelift for the nation's aging infrastructure.
“I will sign an executive order clearing away the red tape that slows down too many construction projects.," he said. "But (congressmen) need to fund these projects. Take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home.”
Joplin, Jasper County to receive more than $45 million in federal rebuilding funds
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Friday a $45 million investment to Joplin to help fund the town’s rebuilding efforts in the wake of last spring’s severe tornado that devastated much of the area.
Missouri will also receive $9 million, 80% of which will support rebuilding efforts in Jasper County. Joplin is the largest city in the county.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, supported by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is the source of the funding. McCaskill voted in November to allot an additional $400 million to the CDBG to aid disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts.
“I’ve seen firsthand the recovery efforts underway by the resilient folks in Joplin, and I know these resources will be put to great use as they continue to rebuild,” McCaskill said in a news release. “I plan to keep fighting to ensure that Joplin, and Missourians across the state who are dealing with natural disasters, have the support and the tools necessary to rebuild their homes and businesses.”