Obama prepares to deliver State of the Union address

Barack Obama is preparing to deliver his penultimate State of the Union address on Tuesday [20th January.]

The idea of the speech is to set out his view of how the US is progressing and the President’s plans for the coming year’s legislation – but with both chambers of Congress now controlled by the Republican party, it may be harder for him to see his ideas come to fruition.

Our correspondent Lorna Shaddick reports from Washington.

IN: A Ford factory...'
OUT: SOC
DUR: 2 mins 54 secs

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UPSOT Obama: This is an American car, right here…

VO 1: Reuters 3323 – Obama in Mustang
A Ford factory in Michigan….

VO 2: Reuters 4265 shot 15 – Obama in Knoxville
A high school in Arizona…

VO 3: Reuters 5306 - Obama at industrial hub in Tennessee
And an industrial hub in Tennessee … all places President Obama’s visited in the lead-up to his 2015 State of the Union address.

Piece to Camera – Super: Lorna Shaddick, Washington DC
Usually when the President comes to this building to give his annual speech, the contents are still largely a secret. But Barack Obama’s decided to reverse that this year, travelling across America to preview the address, hoping that by the time he comes HERE to give it, he’ll have built up plenty of interest and momentum.

VO 4: Reuters 3323 – Obama at Ford Plant, B roll on stage
And with unemployment at its lowest since 2008, the main focus of his announcements is cementing his economic legacy.

SOT – Super: Barack Obama, US President (Reuters  3323)
America’s resurgence is real. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. // We can make sure that the middle class is the engine that powers American prosperity for decades to come. And that’s going to be the focus of my State of the Union address in a couple of weeks – building on the progress we’ve already made.

SOT – Super: Christina Bellantoni, Editor in Chief, CQ Roll Call
The President has been talking at length about the middle class, this is the large theme he’s gone after many times. Compare that to last year when he really stressed raising the minimum wage, helping to lift up some of the lowest paid workers in America. This is going to be more – let’s lift up families, let’s address our corporate tax system.

VO 5: Reuters 5273 – Obama in Knoxville
Mr. Obama’s touting THIS as one way to help families and address America’s growing income gap:

SOT- Super: Barack Obama, US President (Reuters 5273)
I’m announcing an ambitious new plan to bring down the cost of community college tuition in America. I want to bring it down to zero. (Applause).

VO 6: Reuters 5273 – Obama in Knoxville / FSN oil and housing file pics / Reuters 2275 cyber
But that plan, along with other projects on the agenda - cutting methane from America’s oil and gas industry, expanding federal housing benefits, and even action on cybersecurity - are unlikely to go down well with conservative Republicans, who are unwilling to spend money, especially on White House initiatives.

VO 7: Reuters 2275 – Obama cybersecurity announcement
But the speech will also outline areas where Mr. Obama can reach agreement with Republicans:

SOT – Super: Christina Bellantoni, Editor in Chief, CQ Roll Call
You’re also going to hear him talk about ways that he can work with Republicans – potentially reforming our corporate tax structure. // That’s an area where there actually is a lot of compromise. And maybe he’ll use the savings there for some of that infrastructure investment. But I would also expect the President to lay down a bit of an aggressive marker, threatening Republicans – I will veto some of the things you put out if they are not what the rest of the country wants.

VO 8: Last year’s SOTU
That’s because unlike last year, when the President was trying to protect Democrats up for midterm re-election in normally Republican, in 2015, he’s freer to act on his own – and this is his last chance to do so. By the time we see him addressing Congress for 2016’s State of the Union, the race for his successor will be well and truly underway. Lorna Shaddick, Channel News Asia, Washington.