State of the Union Spoilers: What You Can Expect to Hear During President Obama’s Address

In a few short hours, President Obama will stand before members of Congress, United States Supreme Court justices and cabinet secretaries for his sixth State of the Union. But not all of the policy proposals he outlines will be new to those watching.

In the weeks leading up to tonight’s address, the president crisscrossed the country previewing different ideas included in the annual speech.

“I didn’t want to wait for the State of the Union to talk about all the things that make this country great and how we can make it better,” Obama said during a trip to Wayne, Mich., earlier this month. “So I thought I’d get started this week. I figured, why wait? It’s like opening your Christmas presents a little early.”

With a series of “SOTU Spoilers,” Obama broke tradition by previewing legislation and executive actions he plans to push for during his seventh year in office.

But with Republicans controlling both the House and Senate for the first time in eight years, it’s likely Obama’s legislative proposals will be met with resistance and push back.

However, there are some policy areas where Republicans hope to work with the president, including tax reform.

“I didn’t want to wait for the State of the Union to talk about all the things that make this country great and how we can make it better. So I thought I’d get started this week. I figured, why wait? It’s like opening your Christmas presents a little early,” said @BarackObama

Here are a few of the policy proposals you can expect to hear during the president’s State of the Union tonight.

>>> Will You Watch the State of the Union on TV Tonight? This Chart Reveals More People Are Tuning Out

Free Community College

During an address at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tenn., earlier this month, Obama unveiled a higher education proposal to make two years of tuition at a community college free for eligible students.

Students who maintain a “C” average or better would qualify for free tuition, and the White House said the federal government would foot the bill for three-quarters of the cost. States would pay for the remainder of the cost.

The Obama administration didn’t originally have a price tag for the plan, but later said it would cost $60 billion.

Lower Insurance Premiums on Mortgages

During a trip to Phoenix, Ariz. two weeks before the State of the Union, the president told attendees of his plan to help Americans “afford their piece of the American dream.” That, he said, is owning their own home.

To assist Americans in doing just that, the president announced a proposal to cut mortgage insurance premiums from the Federal Housing Administration from 1.35 percent to 0.85 percent. The reduction would save new borrowers $900 a year in mortgage insurance costs, the president said.

Additionally, the cuts to mortgage insurance premiums would allow 250,000 new homebuyers to purchase their first home, the White House said.

Improved Access to Broadband

The president headed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last week to discuss the need for greater access to faster and cheaper broadband Internet. Obama sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, the agency that regulates radio, television and Internet, encouraging it to challenge state laws that limit Internet options available to communities.

Obama also announced new grant opportunities from the Department of Agriculture to encourage broadband carriers to expand to rural and underserved areas.

Cybersecurity

Just weeks after Sony Pictures was hacked, the president discussed a renewed focus on cybersecurity for consumers, the government and private sector businesses during a speech at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C.

Regarding consumer protections, Obama spoke about ways to improve privacy and protect from identity theft. The president proposed a 30-day notification law requiring companies to inform consumers of a data breach within that period of time.

Obama called on Congress to pass a “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” that governs data collection and clearly defines users’ expectations.

>>> 112 State of the Union Promises That Obama Hasn’t Kept

Required Sick Leave for Working Americans

Tonight, Congress can expect to hear the president ask lawmakers to pass legislation allowing workers to earn up to seven days of paid sick time per year.

The president will propose $2 billion in funding to help states develop paid family and medical leave programs.

Obama also signed a presidential memorandum requiring agencies to make it easier for federal employees to take up to six weeks of maternity leave.

Tax Hikes for the Wealthy

Obama unveiled a tax plan this weekend that would hike taxes for the wealthy to pay for investments for the middle class, including his proposal for free community college.

Obama’s plan includes raising the capital gains tax, instituting a bank tax and taxing assets transferred at death.

Reforms aimed at helping the middle class include a new $500 second-earner tax credit and expanding child care tax benefits.

Regulation of Methane Emissions

Using executive authority, Obama plans to regulate and cut methane gas emissions.

In 10 years, the administration plans to cut 2012 emission levels by 45 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency will release the proposed regulations in the coming months. They’ll be finalized in 2016.