Tagged: President Barack Obama

In his State of the Union Address last month, President Barack Obama called on congress to pass an increase to the federal minimum wage, raising it from its current rate $7.25 per hour to $9 per hour.

This week, House and Senate Democrats introduced legislation to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, more than a dollar higher than Obama proposed.

For most of Barack Obama’s first term as president he talked passionately, if not persuasively, about the need for national unity. Even the Stimulus Bill – largely a laundry list of pent up Congressional desires – was described as a national effort to get the economy moving. His prime legislative initiative, Obamacare, was advertised as a way to extend medical coverage for those without insurance. Of course, it nationalized one-seventh of the American economy and set the stage for unprecedented government expansion. Although it may be premature to attach historical labels to the president’s first term, I think his record displays what might be called “soft authoritarianism.”

President Barack Obama delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term last night, outlining bold initiatives on reforming the nation’s high schools, immigration policy, economic development, and gun control.

Today we want to hear what you thought of the president’s remarks, and joining us with his reaction to the speech is WAMC’s own political observer, Dr. Alan Chartock. WAMC's Ray Graf hosts.

The President of the United States has some tough questions to answer.  And how he answers might determine what he can do over the next four years, whether he’s effective or lame-duck, an elitist or a man of the people.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is sending a $50.5 billion emergency relief measure for Superstorm Sandy victims to President Barack Obama for his signature.