Obamas State of Union speech plans would affect Florida Florida Today – by Ledyard King January 20, 2015 WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama enters the last two years of his presidency with his approval rating languishing below 50 percent and Congress under Republican control. Despite the unwelcome political terrain, the president has aggressively pushed his priorities in recent weeks, opening up relations with Cuba and promoting a middle-class agenda that includes free community college tuition and extra housing assistance. In the days leading up to his State of the Union speech tonight, Obama has laid out a number of proposals he wants to pursue in the coming year, many of which would affect Florida..... Free community college tuition This would benefit many of the nearly 500,000 Floridians who attend the states 28 community colleges. Obama wants to join with states to pay for two years of community college for students with at least a 2.5 GPA. The administration argues that, by 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelors degree. An additional 30 percent will require some college or an associates degree. Its something that we can accomplish and its something that will train our work force so that we can compete with anybody in the world, the president said. About 26.4 percent of Floridians age 25 or older have a bachelors degree. Thats below the national average of 28.8 percent, according to census data. Obamas idea, expected to cost $60 billion over 10 years, is already drawing criticism from Gov. Rick Scott. He has pressed the states public universities to keep tuition low, but isnt convinced Obamas approach is sound. In the long run, the president would likely save college students more money by holding the line on the rising cost of undergraduate and graduate school tuition instead of creating another government program, Scott said in a statement..... Climate change Obama has been a relentless champion of efforts to combat climate change. His latest effort, announced this week, will look for ways to cut methane emissions, the third-largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The approach, focused on emissions from oil and natural gas sources, includes regulations combined with a push to develop technology aimed at reducing natural gas leaks that contribute to methane releases. The oil and gas industry, citing a 12 percent decrease in methane emissions since 2011, dismisses the presidents plan as regulation in search of a problem. Environmental groups applaud the move as a key to slowing the acceleration of man-made global warming. Thats where the proposed policy could have long-term effects in Florida. A White House report in May warned that if climate change continues, the Sunshine State faces: • More category 4 and 5 hurricanes threatening the states Atlantic and Gulf coasts. • More days where the temperature hits at least 95 degrees, a danger not only to humans but livestock and crops. The threat of wildfires also increases with higher temperatures. • Rising sea levels that will lead to more saltwater intrusion into fresh water aquifers and wells, which also threatens crop production.... Internet access The president wants to improve Americans access to fast and affordable broadband as a way to improve economic opportunity. Internet capacity and speed varies from state to state, even from community to community, creating an uneven playing field. Some Florida communities have taken steps to improve broadband access at relatively low cost, including Tallahassee, Gainesville, Jacksonville and Palm Beach County, according to the White House. The Obama administration hopes to build on existing efforts taken in the wake of the economic stimulus to help communities expand Internet access. And it wants the 19 states that limit local governments broadband — including Florida — to eliminate those restrictions. floridatoday/story/news/politics/2015/01/19/obama-state-union-affect-florida/22026477/
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 07:53:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015