Gun control and North Korea’s nuclear testing are two items sure to be covered in tonight’s State of the Union address, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’d also like to hear President Obama talk about his plans for the future of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Grassley says, “I know Congress can act on its own but these are politically-sensitive issues and Congress isn’t going to move ahead on reforming and improving and preserving these programs without making sure that the president’s going to sign it.” Grassley, a Republican, says some “presidential leadership” on these issues is very important.
“Sequestration” is the term for the upcoming series of budget cuts and Grassley says he’d like to hear President Obama provide more detail on alternatives to those cuts — which could total one-point-two trillion dollars over a decade.
Grassley says, “Since the House of Representatives twice has passed alternatives to the sequestration across-the-board cuts that are going to happen on March 2nd, I’d like to see the president and/or Senator Reid and the Democrat majority in the Senate put up their alternative plan.”
The first round of budget cuts under sequestration would total about 85-billion dollars over seven months, hitting everything from farm payments to military spending. There are a few other items on Grassley’s “wish list” for tonight’s big speech.
Grassley says, “I’d like to have him express more concern about international trade because we’re an exporting nation, and I’d like to have him come out for tax reform.” The president will address the joint session of Congress at 8 P.M. Central time. Grassley says he’ll be there in person.