We watched the State of the Union last night, and we have you covered in case you forgot to do the same.
by Kaylen Ralph
1. “It’s time to stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a ‘women’s issue.'”
President Obama started off this year’s State of the Union talking about the economy. Since a downtrodden economy was the number one issue he faced when he took office six years ago, it was a fitting intro, a shoe-in high note to start off on. This quickly segued into a speech about equal pay (whoop!). According to the information sidebar that accompanied YouTube’s broadcasting of the speech, a woman loses $420,000 over her lifetime because of the earnings gap. “That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work,” Obama said. “Really. It’s 2015. It’s time.” Preach. Childcare is in integral part of making this happen. The president said he aims to make quality childcare more affordable and more available.
Whether states will take the lead on pushing these laws, or if Washington will get its act together and pass something sweeping, remains to be seen.
2. Paid sick leave “is the right thing to do.” So is raising the minimum wage.
Another related item on his economic strengthening agenda? Paid sick leave and paid maternity leave. These were mentioned in the same breath but we’re not trying to split hairs over here. President Obama certainly didn’t: “Today, we’re the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers.” He wants Congress to send him a bill that will guarantee workers the opportunity to earn 7 days of paid sick leave. Maternity leave specifics weren’t addressed….
3. “I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college – to zero.”
We initially heard about this plan earlier this month, and the Internet’s initial, general reaction was enthusiastic. Anyone currently working through student loans or contemplating the cost of a four-year university can appreciate the appeal of a free few years of higher education, whether it’s a stepping stone or the game plan. Forty percent of college students choose community college, and President Obama compared his proposal to when high school was made free in the 20th century.
3. “Make sure to Instagram it.”
“It” being NASA astronaut Scott Kelly’s 12-month trip to space, scheduled for 12 months. We’d actually really like to see that. ‘Gram away, Scott!
4. “A smarter kind of American leadership.”
This is how the president summed up his plan to combine military power with diplomacy in an effort to dismantle terrorist organizations. He’s not afraid to let the U.S.A. lead by example and “act unilaterally,” though we have, count ’em, 60 partners acting with us to “destroy ISIL in Iraq and Syria,” without getting “dragged into another ground war in the Middle East.” Don’t forget about improved relationships with Cuba, Iran and the Asia Pacific.
5. The Pentagon has called climate change a “direct threat to our national security.”
President Obama is jazzed about the fact that China has agreed to limit their omissions. For a long time, they were pretty firm about not wanting to play green ball. The idea is that other countries will also be inspired to play, now that the “world’s two largest economies came together.”
6. Obama’s closing Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, aka “gtmo.”
In the president’s own words, “‘it makes no sense to spend three million dollars per prisoner to keep open a prison that the world condemns and terrorists use to recruit. Since I’ve been President, we’ve worked responsibly to cut the population of GTMO in half. Now it’s time to finish the job.”
7. “Too many people in this town benefit from partisanship.”
This was the first time in his six years in office that the president addressed a Republican-dominated Congress, so, enough said.
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Kaylen is one of The Riveter’s co-founders and the EIC. She moved to Minneapolis, MN after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism in August 2013. In addition to her editorial duties at The Riveter, Kaylen also works as a freelance researcher for The Sager Group. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @kaylenralph.
