Obama's State of the Union Predictions

President Barack Obama did not disappoint those making bets on his State of the Union address topics. He continued to urge congress to pass his health care bill. “I didn’t take on health care because it was good politics,” Obama said. He says it needed to be done.

He brought up of one of his big campaign promises – the end of the war in Iraq. “As a candidate, I promised that I would end this war, and that is what I am doing as president,” he said. “Make no mistake: this war is ending and all of our troops are coming home.”

The beginning of solving America’s problems, according to the president, is stabilizing the economy. His answer to that, at least for now, is to take some of the money from Wall Street and give it back to Main Street. “I’m proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat,” Obama said.

Draining Funds Dry up City Budget

Like a cup with a hole in the bottom, the City of Huntington is losing money faster than it can stock up. Nearly 50,000 people live within the city’s 16 square mile area – their tax dollars are not enough to keep the budget afloat.

For fiscal year 2009, Huntington brought in $39,990,304, but only spent $38,919,497. This fiscal year, the city plans to spend every penny it brings in – $42,135,417 in and $42,135,417 out. Most of the city’s revenue comes from the business and occupational tax, $17,395,121, and municipal fees, $5,900,000. The highest expenditures are from the police and fire departments, $11,580,414 and $10,271,811 respectively.

As a quick fix, Mayor Kim Wolfe has issued a spending freeze for the remainder of fiscal 2010. According to WSAZ.com, the mayor told city council the freeze affects all city departments through June 2010.

WSAZ.com also says Wolfe has contingency plans if the cup keeps draining.

State of the University

Last week during West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin's State of the State address he told state universities and colleges not to raise tuition prices in 2010. It was his way of saving cash for higher education students in the Mountain State. Marshall University President Dr. Stephen Kopp admitted it's going to be tough.

Kopp said one way to keep the university making money without hiking costs is to bring in new students. He says Marshall will bring them in by bringing in new programs -- sports therapy and pharmacy. Both programs would be a value, as there is a serious need for professionals in those fields.

Kopp also addressed the Marshall's green initiative . He says by being more environmentally friendly, money will be saved. Kopp laid out how many resources have been saved since the program began.

So Obama, Reagan, Nixon and Truman walk into a bar...

There's no sense in burying the lead – probable topics of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech are easy to pinpoint: the bankrupt economy, war and that other thing we never hear about, health care reform.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan became president during one of the worst economic climates our country has ever seen. A year ago, a New York Times story compared the current the economic meltdown to that of 1982. He notes that more than half of America is too young to remember 1982. I wasn't even born.

The signs were the same: oil prices jumped, home sales bottomed out and jobs were lost faster than college students lose their keys.

"We have an economic program in place, completely different from the artificial quick fixes of the past," Reagan said in his 1982 State of the Union Address. Funny, he thought artificial quick fixes were of the past (think: cash4clunkers, then think: I need a cocktail).

For those who can remember 1982, the phrase "economic recovery" is probably annoying. Reagan said it five times in 82 – Obama dropped it 13 times in his inauguration speech last year.

When you think Richard Nixon you probably think Watergate or impeachment. My friend, Nixon expert and London School of Economics graduate Justin Roth, tells me that way back in 1968 Nixon was elected on the promise of solving the Vietnam War, but after the first year things weren't any better.

Obama can certainly relate. Folks across the country with George W. Bush’s face on bulls’ eyes voted for “change.” Obama was supposed to get troops out of Iraq by Jan. 21, 2009. Now it’s Jan. 21, 2010 and they are still there.

In 1970, Americans probably expected strong words from the president full of exit strategy promises. Instead, in Nixon’s State of the Union address he said, "I do not intend to go through a detailed listing of what I have proposed or will propose.” He did, however, talk about some things important to those concerned about Vietnam, like clean air and living the American dream.

In 1945, President Harry Truman proposed a program to improve health care in the United States. Before Congress in 1946 Truman explained his proposal, “One of the best possible contributions toward building a stronger, healthier nation would be a permanent school-lunch program on a scale adequate to assure every school child a good lunch at noon.” Maybe that’s where Jamie Oliver got his idea for how to save Huntington.

Last year during his inauguration speech, Obama touched on each of these themes. He pushed for better health coverage by hitting listeners where it hurts – their wallets. “The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year,” he warned, “yet we keep delaying reform.”

No doubt Obama will ask for bipartisan approval of his proposed health care plan. He may even mention Scott Brown’s upset of the “people’s” seat in Massachusetts.

He also made a promise that so far, has not seen fruition. “I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war,” he said. He may have plans, but action is implied.

“The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere,” Obama reminded Americans during his inauguration speech. A year later and the impact of the recession is even more real. Like Visa, it’s everywhere you want to be… but can’t get to because you lost your job.

There are more questions than answers to what exactly the state of our union is. Obama has a lot to bring Americans up to speed on – and it better be good, after all, he is preempting American Idol.

If you'd like to catch Obama's State of the Union address, there are plenty of ways you can watch Wednesday night. Download the White House iPhone app or click over to YouTube for a live stream. It starts at 9 p.m., EST (for folks that like to kick it old school, the address will also be on television).

2010 State of the Union Address

In the early 1980s, president was added to Ronald Reagan’s title just a year before one of the worst economic climates our country has ever seen. This time last year, David Leonhardt with the New York Times wrote a story comparing our economic breakdown to that of 1982. He notes that more than half of America is too young to remember 1982. I wasn't even born.

"We have an economic program in place,” someone wrote and Reagan read. “Completely different from the artificial quick fixes of the past." That was during his first State of the Union address. Funny, he thought artificial quick fixes were of the past (think: cash4clunkers, then think: I need a cocktail).

For those who can remember 1982, the phrase "economic recovery" is probably annoying. Reagan said it five times in 1982 – Obama dropped it 13 times in his Inaugural Speech last year.

When you think Richard Nixon, you probably think Watergate or impeachment. My friend, and London School of Economics graduate Justin Roth, tells me that way back in 1968 Nixon was elected on the promise of solving the Vietnam War, but after the first year things were not any better (If I wasn't alive in 1982, what am I supposed to know about the 1960s?).

Obama can certainly relate. Folks across the country with George W. Bush’s face on bulls eyes voted for “change.” Barack was supposed to get us out of Iraq by January 21, 2009. Now it's January 2010 and guess where our troops are? Hint: it's not St. Barths.

"I do not intend to through a detailed listing of what I have proposed or will propose," President Nixon said regarding the war in his 1970 State of the Union Address. He did, however, discuss some things important to those concerned about Vietnam, like clean air and living the American dream.

In 1945, President Harry Truman proposed a program to improve health care in the United States. Before Congress in 1946 Truman explained his propsal, “One of the best possible contributions toward building a stronger, healthier nation would be a permanent school-lunch program on a scale adequate to assure every school child a good lunch at noon.” Maybe that’s where Jamie Oliver got his idea for how to save Huntington.

Last year during his Inaugural Speech, Obama touched on each of these themes. He pushed for better health coverage by hitting listeners where it hurts – their wallets. “The cost of health care eats up more and more of our savings each year,” he said, “yet we keep delaying reform.”

He also made a promise that so far, has not come to fruition. “I will soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its people and responsibly ends this war,” he alleged.

“The impact of this recession is real, and it is everywhere,” he said. A year later and the impact of the recession is even more encumbering.

These speeches get longer from year to year. Nixon rattled off about 45-hundred words and Obama topped out at nearly 6,000.

state of... planning?

Past, present and future all had a role in Governor Joe Manchin’s State of the State Address on Wednesday. It was Manchin’s sixth address, and even though Jennifer Garner may have been the most interesting thing there, some of his points did stand out.

The governor spoke about budget problems that have come from previous years, current drug use and the future of those who live within these jagged state lines – students.

Manchin ordered West Virginia’s budget to be cut by 3.4 percent in an effort to curb spending; he may have also helped curb spending for those paying for their college education. The governor offered a break for wallets, asking all colleges and universities in our state to freeze tuition this year.

While students and parents around the state whispered “thank you”, professors were probably not so happy. This freeze undoubtedly means no raises for them, but at least educators are on the same level now: Manchin also said no raises for state employees. That means public school teachers, who I’m willing to bet will still picket at the Capitol this spring (their annual picket for a raise may be by now more of a reunion than an actual expectation of more money).

For college students, the freeze on tuition is inconsequential. Manchin’s PROMISE of a free four year education has certainly paid off for them – but now that he’s scratched their back, he’s asking for a return on the favor. Back in 2008, the governor said he wanted a “return on the substantial investment” he’s made with PROMISE scholars. He asked them to stay here in the Mountain State.

This year, something with a little more teeth: the governor asked these students to promise they would do it. That’s going to be a tough thing to hold graduates to when jobs that bring in big bucks just aren’t available in this state. Manchin said we could fight those job problems by “investing in our community and technical colleges”. I’m not a politician, but I think a good way to fight job loss is to create new jobs.

A love for learning does not start in college, it has to be cultivated. In his address, Manchin praised a woman who made her way from the hills of West Virginia to silver screen – and back again to “Save the Children.” Actress Jennifer Garner received a long, standing ovation for her work with the group and Manchin pledged to direct $1 million to young learners in our state’s rural counties.

One thing touched on that really affects this area in particular – drug abuse. Manchin’s message to those involved in the crime was simple: “Get out of our state now, while you still can.” In past few years, drugs dealers have run rampant on our once quiet, college town. Now, I think half of the dealers in Detroit own a timeshare here.

The governor’s way of attacking this issue is to get rid of the places where illicit activity takes place. He plans to collect money from folks who own abandoned buildings that are not kept up. I’m not sure that is the best way to combat this problem, but I’m also not sure I could come up with a better one.

When speechwriters prepare an address of this magnitude, there’s a formula they go by. That formula is really easy to remember: talk about the economy.

There’s this big party and every state is invited. Most of them are wearing red, but West Virginia’s in black. That’s a big deal. That is something Joe Manchin should be proud of.

Manchin says, like he said last year, the state is still in planning mode – no panic here. As a governor he should be ecstatic about that. If things are bad around the country, at least they are a little bit better in our Wild & Wonderful state.

really reporting public affairs

Our first assignment was to chose a local governmental body to follow through the semester. My choice: the Huntington Weed & Seed Program. Weed & Seed is a community based program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and ran with joint leadership, members of the community and local law enforcement. Members of the program supposed are to do positive things, like plant flowers and clean up trash, to give folks a sense of pride in their community; the idea is that that will be a deterrence to crime. If you'd like to read more about Weed & Seed across the country, click here.

Throughout the coming months, I will get to know those in charge and attend meetings. A special investigative report will be completed on this program by the end of the semester.

back to school

Welcome to Reporting Public Affairs. My name is Hanna, I'm a senior broadcast journalism student at Marshall University. This blog is an inside look at projects I will complete in JMC414.