President Obama will deliver his fifth State of the Union address at 9 p.m. Tuesday, and he is expected to focus on ideas to improve the U.S. economy — including a new executive order to raise the minimum wage for workers employed through new federal contracts.
That order will raise the minimum pay for those workers to $10.10 an hour, according to a White House document. More broadly, Obama will talk about his plans to expand economic opportunity — including several that will not require Congress's approval.
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How presidential rhetoric in the State of the Union address has changed over the past 100 years
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"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. Some require Congressional action, and I'm eager to work with all of you. But America does not stand still – and neither will I," Obama will say, according to excerpts released by the White House. "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."
Tuesday's speech comes at a burned-out and stalemated moment in American politics, in which both Obama and Congressional Republican have seen their momentum dissipate--leaving each with just enough power to block the other.
Both of them have plans to re-gain that old momentum on Tuesday, as the country (or some dwindling part of it) tunes in to the great annual ritual of American politics. Obama's goal seems to be turning unhappiness with Congress into support for himself, by promising to bypass Congress when he can.
"In the coming months, let's see where else we can make progress together. Let's make this a year of action. That's what most Americans want – for all of us in this chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations," Obama will say, according to the White House. "And what I believe unites the people of this nation, regardless of race or region or party, young or old, rich or poor, is the simple, profound belief in opportunity for all – the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead."
Republicans, on the other hand, would like to seize the capital's agenda, with Obama and Democrats weakened by problems with the new health-care law. But, on Tuesday night, the GOP's old problem will intrude into this new moment: instead of one Republican "response" to the speech, there will be four.
They will include one official response in English, from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). One official response in Spanish, from Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.). One from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), representing the party's libertarian wing (and, unofficially, Paul's own presidential ambitions).
And one from Sen. Mike Lee (Utah), ostensibly representing the party's tea party wing. His office released excerpts from Lee's talk--written, of course, before Obama had uttered a word. They showed that Lee would cast Obama as hopelessly tied to an idea that Lee disagrees with: boosting jobs through government action, instead of through the free market.
Economic inequality, Lee will say, comes "from government — every time it takes rights and opportunities away from the American people and gives them instead to politicians, bureaucrats, and special interests.
"Throughout the last five years, President Obama has promised an economy for the middle class; but all he's delivered is an economy for the middle-men," Lee will say.
Up in the House gallery, there will be the traditional human symbols--guests invited both by Obama, and by members of Congress, for their ability to communicate an important point without actually speaking.
Obama's guests, sitting with First Lady Michelle Obama, will include a hero--Antoinette Tuff of Georgia, who talked down a gunman who had burst into the school where she worked. There will also be other guests who signify policies important to Obama, including an activist who fasted to promote immigration reform, and a woman who was able to obtain health insurance thanks to changes in the president's health-care law.
Among legislators guests will be Willie Robertson, part of the family featured in the reality show Duck Dynasty--whose patriarch was was the subject of a recent controversy, following his remarks about gays. Robertson will be the guest of Rep. Vance McAllister (R), a freshman from Louisiana, according to news reports.
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