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Obama to Bring Economic Message to Wisconsin

   VOA News  January 26, 2011
   President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One in the rain at
   Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, 26 Jan 2011

Photo: AP

   President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One in the rain at
   Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, 26 Jan 2011

   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama  is  taking his economic message to the
   north-central  state  of  Wisconsin  Wednesday,  a day after outlining
   goals for the nation in his second [1]State of the Union address.
   Late   Tuesday,  Mr.  Obama  called  for  investments  in  innovation,
   research,  development  and  infrastructure as ways to create jobs and
   make the country more competitive.  He said the economy is improving,
   but more needs to be done. Â
   The  national unemployment rate is more than nine percent; millions of
   Americans remain out of work.
   Speaking  to  a joint session of Congress, President Obama also called
   for political unity, acknowledging political fighting in the two years
   he has been president, but saying either the country will move forward
   together  or  not move forward at all.  He said the challenges facing
   the nation are bigger than a political party or politics.
   In the Republican Party response to Mr. Obama's speech, Representative
   Paul  Ryan  accused  the administration of overspending.  He said the
   country  needs  to  "chart  a  new  course"  instead  of  depending on
   bureaucracy  to  foster  innovation, competitiveness and wise consumer
   choices.
   On  his health care reform - which Republicans say they want to repeal
   and replace - the president said he is open to ideas for improving the
   law,  but  he  is not willing to do away with the aspects that he says
   have improved insurance coverage.
   Mr.  Obama  said  the  world has changed in the past few decades, with
   small  stores  in  the  U.S.  and  once-booming  factories now closed,
   workers  earning  less  or  losing  their  jobs,  and  China and India
   competing  with  U.S. businesses.  He said the first step in "winning
   the future" is encouraging American innovation.
   On  foreign  affairs, he said the U.S. has kept its commitment in Iraq
   and  that the war there is coming to an end, as violence has decreased
   and  a  new  government  has  been  formed.  He said the U.S. also is
   continuing its fight against al-Qaida.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Obama-to-Propose-Budget-Freeze-in-State-of-the-Union-114590229.html

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