'Domestic' State of the Union
This is not because Democrats necessarily want to cooperate with a Republican president, but because they have an eye toward the 2008 elections. Six senators have announced they are running for president. Two others may enter the crowded horse race. Candidates from both sides of the aisle understand the importance of moving the country ahead on domestic issues as well as addressing the war in Iraq within the next two years. Depending upon what happens, control of Congress may once again be in play.
The new Congress may offer the best opportunity in recent years for meaningful immigration reform. The recent raid at the Swift & Co. meat processing plant in Hyrum and the heated debate at the Utah Legislature over a state law that extends in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants who meet certain residency requirements illustrate the need for a sensible federal immigration policy. To that end, Bush has proposed establishing a temporary "guest-worker" program and creating a path to legal status. As a nod to Republicans, he stopped short of offering amnesty to the millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States. His plan also would entail stiff border enforcement. Not surprisingly, Bush's comments on immigration brought more Democrats than Republicans to their feet.
With a goal of reducing the number of uninsured Americans, Bush proposed making employer-provided health insurance taxable income after a standard deduction of $15,000 for families and $7,500 for singles. The plan, largely the brainchild of former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, now secretary of Health and Human Services, would also redirect money from Medicare and Medicaid and hospital funding toward new grants to states to help subsidize health insurance for individuals.
Clearly, there can be better containment of health-care costs if Americans participate in private health insurance plans. Absent health insurance, many people seek treatment in hospital emergency rooms for chronic health conditions that would be better addressed in regular visits with a health-care provider.
Bush's speech also took aim at what he has previously described as America's "addiction to oil." Bush proposed that the nation cut its gasoline consumption by 20 percent by 2017 by boosting mandates for production of ethanol and other alternative fuels. Bush also called for improved fuel-efficiency standards for passenger cars, light trucks and SUVs. Bush also seeks a 10 percent reduction in auto emissions in 10 years, which should curry favor with members of Congress committed to addressing global warming.
Although Bush's 49-minute address to the nation focused primarily on domestic issues, the war in Iraq will continue to overshadow everything else on his agenda. Congress is divided on his plan to send more troops to Iraq, although most members of Congress say they support the men and women serving there. It is also unclear how Bush would add more than 90,000 service members to the U.S. military in five years.
More importantly for Bush, it remains to be seen if his low approval rating — now hovering in the 30s — will affect his domestic agenda. But as Bush has urged Congress, it is critical that the legislative and the executive branches embrace bipartisanship.
"Like many before us," Bush said, "we can work through our differences." Here's hoping they do.
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