Breaking: Obama to Say 'America Does Not Stand Still,' Vows to Act w/out Congress to Boost Economy

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

@AP: BREAKING: Obama to say, `America does not stand still,' vows to act without Congress to boost economy.

@AP: BREAKING: Obama to say in State of the Union, `Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled.'

OBAMA VOWS TO ACT 'WHEREVER AND WHENEVER' HE CAN

By JULIE PACE
— Jan. 28, 2014 6:32 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Declaring that upward economic mobility has stalled for millions of Americans, President Barack Obama is challenging a deeply divided Congress to restore the nation's belief in "opportunity for all" — while telling lawmakers that he will act on his own "wherever and whenever" he can.

"America does not stand still and neither will I," Obama was saying in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Excerpts of his remarks were released in advance.

In the address to a joint session of Congress and millions of Americans watching on television, the president planned to announce an array of executive actions to raise the minimum wage for new federal contracts, help the long-term unemployed find work and expand job-training programs. He also planned to renew his calls for Congress to expand the minimum wage increase to all workers, pass a sweeping immigration overhaul and increase access to early childhood education programs — all initiatives that stalled after Obama first announced them in last year's State of the Union address.

While unemployment is falling and financial markets are soaring, Obama acknowledged that many Americans have yet to see effects of any broader economic recovery.

"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," Obama says. "And too many still aren't working at all."

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/obama-speech-big-new-theme-some-familiar-content

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. HELLO!

[OnyxCollie]

2. Here comes the TPP!

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

[underpants]

3. That is a great line

[AlinPA]

4. Unfortunately, the slime media and pundits will decide what he said, after he says it.

[Iliyah]

5. And there is also an additional GOPers to do the "State of the Union" RIGHT

Ron Paul. Therefore now we have 5 GOPers rebuttal including but not limited to all the HATE RADIO, CNN and fake news. On top of that the corporate owned media outlets and web sites aka ABC, CBS, and NBC along with social media which of course will all pile on Pres O and oh don't forget . . . Obamacare, Benghazi and other bullshit.

Meanwhile, the Pres under the Constitution will try and do something for his fellow Americans. Meanwhile GOPer congress ignores the unemployment, minimum wage, but fucks with women, the poor and the soldiers.

Christians they call themselves - what a bunch of assholes.

[cal04]

6. Obama: US 'does not stand still' and 'neither will I'

"America does not stand still - and neither will I," Obama will tell lawmakers on Tuesday evening, according to excerpts released ahead of the speech. "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."

"What I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class," he is set to say. "Some require Congressional action, and I'm eager to work with all of you."


http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/28/22484692-obama-us-does-not-stand-still-and-neither-will-i?lite

[DCBob]

7. I think he's serious.

He's tired of the games the RW has played during the past few years. He doesn't need to be reelected so he take some risks politically. This could get interesting.

[bkanderson76]

8. Grab The Keys, Fill 'Er Up With Gas and

Lets get this machine motorin down the road...anybody in the way best be movin fast

[Steerpike]

9. Raising the minimum wage will not solve any of these problems.

I wonder what he will try to do to help the middle class. Helping the poor and the weak is only a band aid. Only a strong middle class will solve our problems...and so far nothing is being done to avoid the extinction of middle income workers.
I've heard that only a revision of the tax structure will help. Otherwise it will simply be platitudes as the middle class continues to slip into oblivion.

[24601]

10. Presidents have significant authority to affect federal pay. Every December, the President

signs a memorandum that sets pretty most federal pay except his own. It includes not only the Military, Civil Service & Political Appointees, but also Justices & Judges, Members of Congress and Congressional leadership and the Vice President.

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/pay-executive-order-2014-adjustments-of-certain-rates-of-pay.pdf

[Steerpike]

11. and almost certainly

None of the people you mentioned make minimum wage in the first place. What he is doing is merely symbolic. When the minimum wage is raised for people who work at Wal-Mart. That would be something. And by the way...military earns a wage...not hourly pay...and those others generally start well above minimum wage.

[24601]

12. Didn't make any such claim. I'll point out that he did freeze federal non-military pay and that

2014 was our 1st raise in four years.

You may review Schedule 8, which covers the Uniformed Services. Junior military make sub-minimum wage when you calculate their salary against hours worked.

Cadets and Midshipmen for example, based on two 80-hour pay periods per month, earn $ 6.36 per hour. An E-1 with less than 4 months service (essentially trainees), based also on two 80-hour pay periods per month, earn $ 8.85 per hour.

Of course their hours actually worked are not limited to a hypothetical 160 hours per month. On the other side, their training wages are supplemented by room & board.

[Steerpike]

13. I was active duty for 5 years and in the reserves for 2 years....

Medical Care, meals, housing, dependent care and potential retirement benefits do not seem to be accounted for in your calculations.

[24601]

14. You should read the last sentence of my post as I accounted for housing & food (room & board).

You can say a soldier has a great health care plan, but if he/she isn't injured and doesn't get sick it's an unrealized benefit. And when there is a major screw-up, military cannot sue for medical malpractice. And I challenge anyone to find a base where there is family member dental care (since it's space-available). That's why SSAM pay for Delta Dental.

Non-appropriated facilities (PX/BX & MWR) are paid for by the user fees, not the taxpayers.

Good that you said potential retirement since only 17% remain in uniform long enough to retire based on years of service.

[Steerpike]

15. I did read it.

As a veteran myself with many years of experience I believe my thoughts are more reality based than others. I had dental work done while I was in the Navy and now that I'm a veteran, I have an appointment to see the dentist on Feb. 7th. at the VA.
I believe that it is possible that a serviceman may not realize any benefits to health care in his lifetime. But, it is not probable.