Obama’s Agenda

“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.”

Immigration

2014 outlook: Mixed

If there is one legislative compromise that Mr. Obama just might reach with lawmakers this year, it could be over an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. But the president barely mentioned the issue on Tuesday, devoting just one short paragraph to what would be one of the biggest achievements of his second-term agenda — if it can get done before he leaves office.

“It is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders and law enforcement — and fix our broken immigration system,” Mr. Obama said on Tuesday night. It was hardly a hard-edge demand.

The soft sell is the result of a calculation inside the White House that the president needs to give House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio some room to maneuver immigration legislation past conservative opponents in his own caucus. But though the House Republican leadership has signaled it could accept a path to legal status — but not citizenship — for many of the 11 million adult immigrants who are in the country illegally, some in the party are urging that the immigration push be abandoned, or delayed until next year, to avoid an internal party rupture before the midterm elections.

Minimum Wage

2014 outlook: Limited Impact

President Obama plans to sign an executive order raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for future federal contract workers using his own power to enact a more limited version of a policy that he has yet to push through Congress.

Mr. Obama also called on Congress to act on a proposal by congressional Democrats that would lift the minimum wage to $10.10 for all workers across the board. The president advocated a similar minimum wage increase during last year’s State of the Union address, only to watch the proposal languish on Capitol Hill, where opponents argued that it would hurt businesses and stifle job creation.

Climate Change

2014 outlook: Highly Likely

One area where President Obama could act aggressively and substantively is on climate change. That is because Congress – with some help from the Supreme Court – has already given the president the authority he needs to roll out aggressive regulations on coal-fired power plants, the nation’s largest source of carbon pollution.

Behind the scenes, he’s directed the Environmental Protection Agency to create sweeping regulation that would shutter coal-fired power plants – a plan that could also have a major impact on cutting carbon pollution but faces strong oppostion from the energy industry.

He has directed the agency to roll out a draft rule by June 1, with a final rule by June of next year.

America's Withdrawal From Afghanistan

2014 outlook: Highly Likely

Underscoring a signature foreign policy initiative of his administration, Mr. Obama noted that the war in Afghanistan was almost over for Americans.

“Together with our allies, we will complete our mission there by the end of this year, and America’s longest war will finally be over,” Mr. Obama said.

If the Afghan government signs a security agreement, Mr. Obama said, the United States stands ready to deploy “a small force of Americans” to carry out “two narrow missions” – training, advising and assisting Afghan security forces, and sustaining counterterrorism operations against Al Qaeda.

The Obama administration has expressed concern about the size and duration of an American-led allied force in Afghanistan after 2014 and how it could affect long-term American security interests in the region.

Retirement Savings

2014 outlook: Mixed

President Obama offered two proposals to address what experts call a retirement-savings crisis that has been exacerbated by the recession and the housing crisis. The president said he would direct the Treasury to create a new government-backed retirement account to encourage savings and also proposed automatic enrollment in retirement accounts.

Of the two proposals, the automatic I.R.A.’s may be the more powerful policy tool. Right now, the government encourages retirement saving primarily through the tax code. But there is little evidence that advantageous tax rates help the Americans who need the most help – like low-income workers — by encouraging them to save more than they would otherwise. Asking workers to opt out of retirement-saving accounts, rather than having to opt in to them, has a proven track record of raising saving levels over all.

That proposal, however, would require congressional approval, whereas the president could create the new Treasury accounts on his own.

From Working With Congress to Going it Alone

“I’m eager to work with all of you. But America does not stand still — and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more Americans families, that’s what I’m going to do.”

President Obama pledged on Tuesday to use his executive authority to advance parts of his agenda without approval from a divided Congress. The approach reflects a gradual shift from his first term, when Democrats saw their majority shrink in the Senate and disappear in the House.

The Economy

2010
“Now, the House has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these steps. As the first order of business this year, I urge the Senate to do the same, and I know they will. They will. People are out of work. They’re hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.”
2012
“With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow. But I can do a whole lot more with your help.”
2014
“To every mayor, governor, and state legislator in America, I say, you don’t have to wait for Congress to act; Americans will support you if you take this on. And as a chief executive, I intend to lead by example. ”

The Environment

2010
“But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives.... [That] means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.”
2012
“The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight, I will.”
2014
“My administration will keep working with the industry to sustain production and job growth while strengthening protection of our air, our water, and our communities. And while we’re at it, I’ll use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations. ”

Education

2010
“Now, this year, we’ve broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools....When we renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we will work with Congress to expand these reforms to all 50 states.”
2012
“Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. ”
2014
“And as Congress decides what it’s going to do, I’m going to pull together a coalition of elected officials, business leaders and philanthropists willing to help more kids access the high-quality pre-K they need.”

Which Moment Will Last?

“Cory is here tonight. And like the Army he loves, like the America he serves, Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg never gives up, and he does not quit. ”

President Obama’s endnote was a heart-tugging tribute to the Army Ranger, Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg, who for the commander in chief has come to represent the tens of thousands of Americans injured in Afghanistan, as Sergeant Remsburg was, and in Iraq.

“Men and women like Cory remind us that America has never come easy,” Mr. Obama said. “Our freedom, our democracy, has never been easy.”

With some lawmakers near tears, Mr. Obama told of his unlikely three encounters with Sergeant Remsburg. The soldier was in his robust prime, part of an elite Ranger group re-enacting parachute drops, when he was introduced to the president in June 2009 at celebrations in France of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The next year Mr. Obama saw a photo of their introduction at a military hospital outside Washington — above a bed where an unrecognizable Sergeant Remsburg, partially paralyzed and brain-damaged, lay after skull surgery for wounds suffered in a bomb blast.

Then last August Mr. Obama was to speak in Phoenix — Sergeant Remsburg’s hometown — and he arranged to meet the soldier privately to check on his progress. In an empty classroom, Sergeant Remsburg rose from his wheelchair, saluted the president, slowly stated the Ranger motto — “Rangers, lead the way” — and shuffled across the room with his walker.

Mr. Obama promised Sergeant Remsburg then that they would meet yet again, at the White House. On Tuesday they did, before heading to the Capitol, where Sergeant Remsburg and his father, Craig, sat beside Michelle Obama in the gallery.