Schakowsky Statement on President Obama's Upcoming State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, DC – “I look forward President Obama’s State of the Union Address tonight. The President has already laid out bold plans to move our country forward – to raise wages for American workers and to provide financial and retirement security for all American families. I am eager to begin work on enacting those policies so that we can expand the middle-class, end poverty and energize our economy.
The President and his partners in Congress have achieved many important accomplishments including the rescue and rebound of the American auto industry, reform of Wall Street, progress on Immigration reform and the delivery of affordable, accessible, quality healthcare for Americans – just to name just a few. However, the American people need us to do more. We must increase the federal minimum wage, provide equal pay for equal work, and raise wages by streamlining the ability of workers to unionize and bargain collectively.
The United States is the wealthiest country in the world, and we’ve never been richer than we are right now. But the vast majority of people in my community in Illinois and all around the country are not seeing that wealth. While Wall Street rakes in record profits, Main Street is barely recovering from the Great Recession. Far too many families come home to a plate full of worry every single night. It is time for action.
The middle class, and those trying to reach it, need us to invest in education, infrastructure, child care, and retirement security. That’s why we must make the investments and enact tax changes that lift up hardworking Americans – not just millionaires and billionaires. If we do, we can ensure that everyone can climb the economic ladder and that the 21st century will be America’s greatest century yet.
The President will place proposals on the table that should have bipartisan support, including one that borrows from Rep. Dave Camp’s plan to raise new revenue from large Wall Street banks. The President will also propose altering the capital gains rate to match what it was during much of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Yet, it is too bad that some Republicans are siding with the 1 percent who are doing really well, instead of the 99 percent who are struggling to make ends meet.
I have my own legislation to promote economic fairness that is in line with the President’s proposals. My Fairness in Taxation Act would add new tax brackets for income over $1 million, while keeping the new rates lower than the top rates that were in place for most of the Reagan years. These proposals would raise needed revenue and make it available for the critical investments our country needs to remain the best place on earth to live, work, and raise a family.
I am eager to hear everything in the President’s address this evening and to work with the Administration to strengthen and expand the American middle class.”
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