US President Barack Obama has been giving his penultimate State of the Union address to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, outlining a wide range of policies aimed at addressing income inequality.
Sketching out his vision for his final two years in office, Mr. Obama announced new initiatives to make community college free for two years, to enhance tax credits for education and childcare, and to improve sick leave.
He'll pay for it with a 320 billion dollar tax raising plan, over ten years.
The President began by trumpeting the improvements in the US economy:
IN: It has been...
OUT: ...is strong(applause)
DUR: 14 seconds
The President said helping the middle class helped America as a whole:
IN: That's what middle...
OUT: ...pockets each year
DUR: 26 seconds
Mr. Obama added that he wants to improve sick leave and the minimum wage as part of his efforts to ensure more people benefit from the economic recovery:
IN: We're the only...
OUT: ...in America a raise
DUR: 21 seconds
One area of possible bipartisan compromise is liberalising trade - something the President called on Congress to do:
IN: AS we speak...
OUT: ...thing to do
DUR: 24 seconds
On foreign policy, the President argued that using diplomacy and coalitions as well as the military has been a success:
IN: I believe in...
OUT: ...making a difference
DUR: 18 seconds
President Obama argued that US leadership is succeeding in the fight against terrorist organisations like the Islamic State:
IN: Instead of sending...
OUT: ...this terrorist group
DUR: 27 seconds
Mr. Obama lauded the effect of his sanctions on Russia:
IN: Last year...
OUT: ...economy in tatters
DUR: 23 seconds
President Obama called on Congress to build on his normalising of relations with Cuba by ending the trade embargo:
IN: Our shift in...
OUT: ...ending the embargo
DUR: 17 seconds
The President also told lawmakers that new sanctions on Iran would be counterproductive:
IN: Between now and...
OUT: ...nuclear programme again
DUR: 29 seconds
