...State of Union paper Minimum Wage President Obama raises minimum wage by a Democratic plan. The minimum wage for workers under federal contracts; he wants to raise it to $10.10. This has been pushed by Democratic lawmakers, applies to all contractors that are having federal government, and would affect more than 2 million employees. Over three years it will eventually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers. Reviewers of the minimum wage push that raising the rate could have an opposing effect, discouraging businesses from hiring more workers at a period of time when the government is trying to job growth. Obama is staging the issue as he tries to focus again on the economy. Obama does not have the power to individually raise the minimum wage for private zone workers, also used last year's State of the Union speech to call for a federal minimum wage hike. No one who works full time in the United States should have to live in poverty. The new order affects only future contracts, not existing ones, and would only apply to contract renewals. The order would benefit far fewer workers than the number predicted by officials of federal contract employees. Obama does not want to become lamer than he already is so he is trying to make this plan the best he can. Minimum wage is a recurrent issue that has taken on a higher profile the slower recovering economy and growing public discuss about income inequality. A University poll this month found 71 percent of US citizens are in...
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...Toney Lee February 8, 2014 ECO-512-26 Spring 2014 Summary: Obama’s 2014 State Of The Union Address The president of the United States addressed our nation on many different issues, achievements, and opportunities for our future moving forward. During his five years in office, he has experienced the highs and lows of economic growth. Under his reign as president, the graduation rate is at its highest level in more than three decades. Although that seems shocking and difficult to believe, it’s a 110% accurate and true. Our unemployment rate is at its lowest in more than five years. It’s currently at 6.6% which is 1.2% lower when Obama first took office. The housing market is recovering from its five years of pain. According to a survey conducted by housing research firm Metrostudy, there are less than 30,000 vacant new homes on the market. The number of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. last year grew 1.2%, or 136,000, the first increase since 1997. In nearly twenty years, more oil is produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world. America is closer to energy independence than we’ve been in decades. Also, we are becoming a global leader in solar too. Over the past eight years, the United States has reduced its total carbon pollution more than any other nation on Earth. The US budget deficit is set to fall to US$514 billion this year, down substantially from last year and lowest level by far since President Barack Obama took office five years ago. For the first...
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...State of the Union Address President Barack Obama, seeking to restore confidence in his leadership, declared in his State of the Union address that he would use executive power to try to narrow the gap between rich and poor and speed the nation’s economic recovery. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the House GOP’s highest-ranking woman, asserted that Obama was making it tougher for most Americans. “Right now, the President’s policies are making people’s lives harder; Republicans have plans to close the gap.” Costa and Kane (2014, January 29). Flurry of GOP responses to State of the Union address .WSJ, p. A1, A4. The President talks a lot about income inequality, but the real gap we face today is with this administration’s policies, that gap has become far too wide. The unemployment rate fell last month, but more Americans stopped looking for jobs than found one. The President also spoke about increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. House Speaker John Boehner said “Raising the minimum wage would result in less hiring and the loss of low-wage jobs.” Costa and Kane (2014, January 29). Flurry of GOP responses to State of the Union address .WSJ, p. A1, A4. I do support the increase of the minimum wage but it has to be done incrementally every year for the next six years. If it is not done incrementally the disadvantage of a minimum wage increase will be an additional cost to businesses that will lead to job cuts. The last thing the country needs right now is job reduction...
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...2014 State of the Union Address In President Obama’s State of the Union Address on January 28, 2014 he mentioned many important details about America’s interaction with the rest of the world. One major point he focused on was America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. At the beginning of Obamas presidency, there were 180,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, all troops are out of Iraq and 60,000 troops have come home from Afghanistan. Afghan forces are now leading in their own security. The United States is now supporting a unified Afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future. The United States has been working to defeat al Qaeda’s leadership, al Qaeda affiliates and other extremists are now taking root in different parts of the world. In Yemen Somalia, Iraq and Mali America must work with partners to disrupt and disable terrorist networks. And in Syria America supports the opposition that rejects the agenda of terrorist networks. The United States will only fight in battles that are necessary to be fought, not the battles that terrorists want us to fight. The United States will not feed into extremism. America will counter terrorism not just by intelligence and military action but by standing by its constitutional ideas and setting an example for the rest of the world. America has rallied over 50 countries to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands. That is why Syria’s chemical weapons are being eliminated. The United States will continue...
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...The major focus of Barack Obama’s state of the union address was economic equality and middle class prosperity. The policies for the promotion and expansion of opportunities for economic growth were the major focus of the Address. The president showed concern over a range of policy initiatives for the provision of security to working families. The major measures include lowering the taxes for working class, increased employment and education opportunities, development of training programs for workers and increased investment in infrastructure and energy sectors to create more job opportunities. President emphasized the need to increase the capital gain and dividend tax rate for the redistribution purpose. In current American economic scenario the earned income is being taxed at a higher rate than investment income. In economic terms this is the major reason of inequality. In his State of Union address, President Obama touched the same reality and was rightly of the opinion that without dealing with the root cause of the problem of redistribution, economic recovery cannot contribute to engine of growth. He said in his State of the Union address “we need a tax code that truly helps working Americans trying to get a leg up in the new economy, and we can achieve that together.” He proposed higher minimum wage, called business units to come forward with more apprenticeship opportunities for workers and offered new retirement plans. This is very right approach if we look at the...
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...State of the Union Address Analysis The following paper will discuss the recent 2011 State of the Union address as presented by President Barack Obama with particular regard to the implications the policies may have for African American Politics. Midway through his term, the address reconfirmed many of the policies presented previously. President Obama particularly emphasised the need for bipartisanship and respect for one another as a result of the recent Tucson tragedy. Democrats and Republicans intermingling in their seating displayed this. He called for all members of the “American family” to be “bound together as one people”. This is an important note when taking into account that of race for although over time the situation involving African Americans on the whole has improved, there are still many inequalities that still exist. The address emphasised three major points which will analyse innovation, education and infrastructure and technology. Continuing on the strong theme of unity, President Obama suggests that one of the most important investments the United States of America needs to make is that of innovation. He proposes that the nation needs to aim for “this generation’s Sputnik moment”. In this way, President Obama points out that developing nations like India and China are well on their way to becoming leaders in areas of technology and education. To continue being competitive in these areas he suggests the nation needs to “out-innovate, out-educate and outbuild”...
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...Lesia Johnson February 19,2013 State of the Union Speech American National Government The President discussed 5 important points in his 2013State of the Union Speech and they were: Immigration Reform: Minimum Wage Increase: Tax Reform & Debt Ceiling: Climate Change and Gun Control. At a time when Republicans are insisting on spending cuts, Obama pushed more public spending on universal preschool, construction work on bridges and schools and a jobs program rebuilding vacant homes in rundown neighborhoods. He pushed for an increase in the minimum wage to $9 an hour, with future increases tied to the cost of living. And he continued to push in support of left-leaning social issues including gun control, immigration reform, climate change and advancing equal rights for gays. President Obama stated how the American people does not expect government to solve every problem nor agree on every issue, but we do expect for the government to put the nation’s interests before party. He stated that their work must begin by making some basic decisions about the budget, decisions that will have a huge impact on the strength of American recovery. Over the last few years, both parties have been working together to reduce the deficit and has done so by more than $2.5 trillion, mostly through spending cuts, but also by raising tax rates on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. As a result, we are more than halfway towards the goal of $4 trillion...
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...Assignment # 1 Response President Obama addressed the main concerns that every American worries about, which is how are the low-middle class Americans going to make ends meet. Throughout President Obama’s term, he has been addressing and making drastic changes so every individual is able to live that “American Dream” as he stated. Obama wants every individual, whether they are immigrants or born citizens of the U.S., to have equal opportunities. Even though, some individuals feel that he isn’t doing much to make living in America easy, Obama has proven those individuals wrong. For one, he was able to clean up years of mess that the previous President, Bush left behind. One of the messes Bush left was a pointless war that involved sending, “nearly 180,000 American troops to Iraq and Afghanistan,” Obama stated. It not only took away sons and daughters from families, but it was extremely costly. Fast-forwarding to now, there are about 15,000 soldiers left in war and more to come home. When Obama first took office, he did promise the American people that he would bring our troops home and end the war. Next, Obama was able to lower gas prices and make “America number one in oil and gas and as well number one in wind power.” Like other Americans like me, who use a car as a source of transportation to get to work, school, and etc., it’s a big relieve that we wouldn’t have to pay outrageous prices just to fuel our cars. Another thing Obama has touch basis on and made a change...
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...President Barack Obama begins the speech with a purpose of putting a bid in for the 2012 presidential election. He starts off with the large success in halting the Taliban and the Iraq war. Following statements prove he has a strong sense of middle class awareness and the gradual rise. He then moves along to the stock market rising again for the first in a long time since its slow decline. President Barack Obama states that nearly four million jobs were lost in the six months before he took office; he has created 3.2 million jobs in the last 22 months. One of the things that President Barack Obama leans heavily on is the uproar and rise of the economy. Since he was put in office he has filled 3.2 out of the 4 million job deficit that he was elected into, last year American businesses created the most jobs since 2005. Making a 2 trillion dollar deficit cut and putting “wall street accountable and responsible for any further mistakes so a crisis like this never happens again”. With over one million jobs at stake and after a bailout for General Motors when they were near the verge of imminent collapse he has turned them around to be the largest automobile manufacturer once again. President Barack Obama believes in keeping American thriving with other American businesses such as, new manufacturing and American energy. It is no longer cost effective and as efficient as it used to be for foreign imported goods at the cost of our economy. President Barack Obama then talks about...
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...President Obama’s State of the Union Address Each year, the President of the United States gives a speech concerning the “state of the Union”. The most recent address was given by Barack Obama in January of 2015. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama is attempting to assure Americans that the Unites States are thriving more now than ever. Through his use of logos and pathos, rhetorical questions, and anecdotes President Obama strengthens his argument and convinces his audience that the United States of America are in a time of economical growth and that the public has no reason to be concerned about the little things, like national debt and terrorism. President Obama initially addresses the number of troops on the ground and involved in war in some way. His approach here is logos because he is providing facts to reassure the audience that something is being done to minimize the number of troops deployed to the lowest number possible. Obama says; “ Six years ago, nearly 180,000 troops served in Iraq and...
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...presented the State of the Union Address to the American people. In this speech, President Barack Obama spoke about many different issues. In this paper, I will review and evaluate President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address using the two checklists from Catherine Smith’s book entitled, Writing Public Policy. I will evaluate if President Obama’s speech addresses a specific audience about a specific problem, the purpose related to a specific policy action, that it represents authority accurately, uses the appropriate form and design for use. I will also review the clarity, correctness, conciseness and credibility of President Obama’s State of the Union Address. Features of Effectiveness President Obama’s State of the Union speech addressed a specific audience about specific problems. The audience is composed of Senators, Democrats, and Republicans. The President’s speech is the final report on the State of the Union. President Obama’s speech...
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...In delivering his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama made a point to touch on nearly every relevant modern day political subject. Some of his most hard pressed issues included tax hikes on the wealthy, the expansion of publicly funded education to include two years of community college, and a call for cyber security measures well beyond anything enacted to date. Actually his new budget will provide an expanded tuition tax credit. After critical backlash from students, parents, and both partied, Barack Obama decided to drop his proposal that would have ended the popular 529 college savings accounts. Barack Obama stated, “In Iraq and Syria, American leadership, including our military power, is stopping ISIS’s advance.” This is half true, as the U.S. has built a coalition of counties, including Arab nations, with the goal of destroying the group, however ISIS continues to advance in Syria. Obama vowed to fight terrorism tactfully and justly, which might have gotten his most well rounded approval over the course of his hour-long speech. He also expressed intentions to improve diplomatic relations with Cuba/enact major trade agreements with Asian nations and the European Union and improve the state of childcare (for working families specifically) in the...
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...Thinh Tang The State of the Union is an important annual speech in America, where the president reports on the condition of the nation and proclaim the legislative agenda and national priorities. This year, the State of the Union is took place at the floor of the the House of Representatives, President Barack Obama, on his second to last of his presidency, issued several liberal proposals to Congress. These programs include a child-care tax credit, free community college. In his speech, he mentions about the free community college for students in two years. The president’s proposal is to raise the quality of students and lower the cost of community college to zero. He would like to give a chance to get free college for students of any age, and encourage them to keep the grade up and graduate on time. One of the reasons he wants the Congress to pass this plan because he believes that in the non stop growing economy nowadays, the students would need to get a higher education to qualify for a job in the future as he mentions in his speech “By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education. Two in three. And yet, we still live in a country where too many bright, striving Americans are priced out of the education they need. It’s not fair to them, and it’s not smart for our future”. Besides, he points out two places in America where each has different political party is offering the free college, which is Tennessee a state with republican leadership...
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...Prepared by: Lisa Fell The Effect of the “Right to Work” Law on Unions and Union Workers in the United States Capstone Co-ordinator: Ted Seath Faculty Advisor: Gary Gannon Table of Contents CHAPTER I 1 DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM 1 Background Statement 1 Problem Statement 2 Purpose Statement 3 Limitations of Study 3 Reliability 4 Availability 4 Timeliness 4 Precision Error 4 Researcher Prejudice 5 CHAPTER II 5 LITERATURE REVIEW 5 Selected Review of Literature 5 The Effect of Right-to-Work Laws on Workers and Wages 5 Right-to-Work Laws are Beneficial to Unions and Union Workers 10 Right-to-Work Laws Negatively Affect Unions and Union Workers 16 Free-Riders are the Cause of Union Demise 23 Free-Riders Make Unions More Accountable 26 Results Summary 28 Right-to-Work Laws Weaken Labor Unions 28 Workers Gain Fewer Benefits from Economic Growth under Right-to-Work Laws 28 The Broader Economic Effects of Right-to-Work Laws are Difficult to Separate 29 CHAPTER III 29 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 29 Conclusions 29 Recommendations 30 WORKS CITED 32 CHAPTER I DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM Background Statement The typical factory worker in the late nineteenth century worked ten hours a day, six days a week. Unskilled workers were paid between $1.00 and $1.50 per day. Children were a significant part of the labour force after the Civil War. Workplace accidents were common, and the idea of compensating workers...
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...Should the Roles of Unions Increase in the United States? Tiwiya Hughes HRMT 407 American Public University System Should the Roles of Unions Increase in the United States? This paper will focus on whether the role of the union should increase in the United States and what role HRM will play in accommodating the employees. I stand on the position of that if companies and organizations provide the employees with the essential “employee-based benefits, such as health insurance, a retirement savings plan, sick and vacation leave than there will be no need for the union to be a representation for the employee “(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). For decades, the union has played a major role in the United States when it comes down...
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