Obama's Big Night
National News
by
Steve Handelsman
last edited on
Thursday, January 26, 2012
President Obama delivers his third State of the Union address tonight. It's shaping up as a campaign speech, to draw sharp distinctions between how he would put Americans back to work and how Republicans would.
Mr. Obama is polishing a speech aimed at middle class voters outraged over the growing income gap between them and the wealthy.
"We want an economy that is based on everyone doing their fair share, everyone getting a fair shake and everyone playing by the same set of rules," says senior White House adviser David Plouffe.
The president wants a new rule for millionaires: A higher tax rate over 35%.
Obama opponent and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made more than $40 million, but paid about 15%, the lowest rate, over the past two years.
The president will argue tonight that more Americans are back at work, but if millionaires paid more, government could do more to help.
Congressional Republicans are already rejecting the speech.
"The president's policies again are just going to double down on what hasn't worked," says House Speaker John Boehner.
Mr. Obama will push new plans to revive the home mortgage market and bring factory jobs back from overseas.
Recovery will be tonight's theme, how best to fix the economy, and who's best to lead that effort.