In his State of the Union Address Wednesday, President Barack Obama called for mobilization of his party and appealed to Republicans for compromise on health-care reform.
""Despite our hardships, our union is strong,"" Obama said. ""In this new decade, it's time the American people get a government that matches their decency, that embodies their strength.""
Obama focused on the struggling middle class and said families are strapped for cash for a number of reasons. He said American families want to see an improving economy, more jobs and lower college costs.
In response to these issues, he outlined a new bill that would distribute $30 million in repaid bank bailout funds to small businesses.
Obama also promised to help students pay off college loans by guaranteeing students their debt will be forgiven after 20 years. Obama also said he plans to pull all troops out of Iraq by this summer.
Gov. Robert McDonnell of Virginia gave the Republican State of the Union Response and said he did not approve of what he perceived as ""big government"" initiatives.
""The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper, limited role of government at every level,"" McDonnell said.
Obama outlined specifics of health-care reform plans and said he wanted members of Congress to work together to find a solution.
""We are closer than ever to bringing more security to the lives of so many Americans,"" Obama said. ""Here's what I ask of Congress, though: Do not walk away from reform.""
Obama also proposed a spending freeze for three years beginning in 2011. Obama cited spending during the Bush administration as the cause of today's financial problems and said cutting discretionary government spending is the answer to improving the economy.
Obama acknowledged that his administration made mistakes in its first year but urged all Americans to move forward together.
""A new year has come,"" Obama said. ""Let's seize this moment to start anew, to carry the dream forward and to strengthen our union once more.""
