President Obama doubled down on his economic proposals to boost the middle class in his first radio address since the State of the Union Tuesday.
Touting plans to close tax loopholes on the “special interests and the superrich,” Obama hinted at a likely congressional struggle over how the White House will fund proposed policies such as free community college and expanded childcare.
“I know that there are Republicans in Congress who disagree with my approach, and I look forward to hearing their ideas for how we can pay for what the middle class needs to grow,” Obama said. “But what we can’t do is simply pretend that things like child care or college aren’t important, or pretend there’s nothing we can do to help middle class families get ahead.”
The economic pitch echoed one Obama delivered to University of Kansas students Thursday in which the president pushed for lower middle-class taxes and higher wages.
Republicans in Congress were quick to criticize the proposed tax hikes on high earners, claiming such increases would threaten the recovery Obama was eager to claim credit for during his State of the Union address.
The president also lauded the rollback of military engagements in Afghanistan and diplomatic successes around the world during his Tuesday address, but has emphasized his populist economic proposals in the days since.
Obama pointed to “booming” energy production as a byproduct of the recovery he said has occurred under his tenure.
His embrace of the country’s energy portfolio in a series of speeches this year has intersected with a congressional debate over whether to proceed with plans to build the Keystone Pipeline, a major infrastructure project that would pump oil from Canada into the U.S. if approved.
Republicans have stepped up their calls to pass Keystone legislation this year, as Democrats have continued their resistance on the grounds that its economic benefit would not outweigh the environmental impact.
