“Our citizens don’t much care which side of the aisle we sit on – as long as we’re willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done.”

President George W. Bush asked the divided and newly Democratic Congress to give his plan of adding 21,500 troops to secure Baghdad “a chance to work” and discussed several domestic issues during his sixth State of the Union Address Tuesday night.

Bush recognized that the current situation in Iraq is not the war the United States originally entered and admitted he too wishes it were over, but urged Congress to continue support.

“This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we’re in,” Bush said. “Every one of us wishes this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk.”

Bush announced his plan to increase the number of troops in Baghdad earlier in the month, and was met with criticism and uncertainty from both sides of Congress.

“We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our convictions,” Bush said. “And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure. Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work.”

By working through its differences, Bush said, the government would “achieve big things” for the American public.

“Our citizens don’t much care which side of the aisle we sit on – as long as we’re willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done,” Bush said.

While Iraq was a hot-button issue for the address, the first half of the speech focused on domestic issues such as the economy, affordable health care, immigration and energy consumption.

Bush introduced three economic reforms that he believes deserve to be priorities for Congress: balancing the federal budget, reducing the number of earmarks, which he defined as “special interest items often slipped into bills at the last hour,” and ensuring the quality of entitlements like Social Security and Medicare.

Bush proposed these three reforms and Congress will ultimately choose to enact or dispose them.

Bush also offered two new initiatives to help make health insurance affordable for Americans. He suggested a standard tax deduction for health insurance and increased funding to states that are coming up with new ways to cover the uninsured.

“Families with health insurance will pay no income on payroll tax – or payroll taxes on $15,000 of their income,” Bush said. “Single Americans with health insurance will pay no income or payroll taxes on $7,500 of their income.”

Recognizing the variety of opinions concerning immigration, Bush suggested establishing a temporary worker program for immigrants to prevent illegal entry into the country. He also urged that the country uphold its “melting pot” tradition by welcoming and assimilating new citizens.

“Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration,” Bush said. “Let us have a serious, civil and conclusive debate, so that you can pass and I can sign comprehensive immigration reform into law.”

Bush also admitted that the country has been too dependent on foreign oil, which he believes leads to vulnerability to hostile regimes and terrorists.

Bush emphasized the need to diversify America’s energy supply. He suggested greater use of clean coal technology, solar energy, safe nuclear power and investment in new methods of producing ethanol.

The president set a goal of reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next 10 years by increasing alternative fuels.

“America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil,” Bush said. “And these technologies will help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change.”

> Comments