An America Within Our Reach

Last night, President Obama gave his State of the Union address where he laid out his vision for an America that works for those that believe in the promise of our great country--- where being middle class is not a dream but the reward for hard work. Where the majority of American families are not just surviving, but thriving. In his speech, President Obama introduced a common sense blueprint to achieve the goal of rebuilding an economy where hard work and responsibility are rewarded. Creating American jobs, renewing the American manufacturing sector, working towards energy independence, investing in a world-class education system, and ensuring economic fairness are how we can give assurance that every American gets a fair chance.

Ensuring economic fairness:
We cannot settle for an America where the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few while millions of families struggle to make ends meet. President Obama's proposals create a more level playing field by ending subsidies for millionaires, closing loopholes in the tax code that benefit the wealthiest Americans, and extending the payroll tax cut for the middle-class.

Investing in education:
Education and a skilled workforce go hand in hand. By fostering partnerships between community colleges and business up to 2 million workers will be trained and placed in jobs. President Obama also stressed that higher education should not be a luxury, but one that every family should be able to afford. Extending the tuition tax credit will save working families thousands of dollars and allow many students a chance to attend college that would otherwise not be able to without this. Educating our students and training our workers builds a workforce that is ready to take on the challenges of today and the future.

Renewing American manufacturing:
American companies will be rewarded for bringing American jobs back from overseas and given lower tax rates. By making outsourcing less attractive, small American business will once again be able to compete and flourish. The President's proposals will bring about a new era of American manufacturing where instead of seeing "Made in China" on everything, we will once again see "Made in the USA".

Moving toward energy independence:
Preventing the U.S. from becoming dependent on foreign energy sources by building up homegrown and alternative energy sources will not only move us toward energy dependence, but will create clean energy jobs for American workers.

Last night, our President stood up for everyday families and made the case that everyone who works hard deserves a fair shot. I fully support President Obama as he pushes for a system that encourages us to work together to achieve a better America. At a time when politics is dominated by cynicism and obstruction, it's refreshing to hear a vision that challenges us to cooperate for an America we all know is within our reach.