By Hunter Walker 2/13 1:05pm

Cash Money

Carolyn Maloney

Carolyn Maloney: ‘Right Now, We’re Marching Towards Sequestration’

New York City Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was quite pleased with President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last night, but she’s not optimistic about Congress heeding the president’s call to to avoid the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts known as the “sequester” that are scheduled to go into effect March 1.

“I love his speech he came out swinging,” Ms. Maloney told Politicker about the president’s speech last night.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/13 5:00am

Reactions

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Photo: Getty)

Governor Cuomo Praises Obama’s ‘Bold’ State of the Union Address

Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a lengthy statement responding to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last night commending the president’s education proposals, call to raise the minimum wage and commitment to gun control.

“President Obama put forward a bold, comprehensive agenda in his 2013 State of the Union Address that continues to rebuild our nation’s economy and strengthens the middle class,” the governor began. “The vision President Obama presented tonight is one we embrace here in New York. The President laid out an agenda for a vibrant American future, where we work together to bring jobs back from overseas, train our young people to have the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, and ensure those who work long and hard hours can provide for their families.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/13 4:46am

Bullet Points

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Photo: Getty)

Mayor Bloomberg Cheers Obama’s ‘Call to Fix the Nation’s Broken Gun Laws’

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has emerged as one of the nation’s loudest gun control advocates in recent months. Unsurprisingly, in his response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last night, the mayor focused on the Commander in Chief’s push for stronger gun control laws including background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines.

“Tonight, President Obama made a clarion call to fix the nation’s broken gun laws,” Mayor Bloomberg said in a statement. “In a chamber filled with both survivors of gun violence and the men and women of the United States Congress who have the power to improve our gun laws, President Obama implored both parties to come together on an issue that has the support of the vast majority of Americans: keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people.” Read More

By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 2/13 12:44am

Hack Attack

(Photo: Getty)

Obama Unveils Executive Order on Cybersecurity

In his State of the Union address last night, President Barack Obama announced a new initiative to protect American citizens and businesses from hack attacks. Cybersecurity, of course, has recently made the news as complex attacks–allegedly linked to the Chinese military–have been waged against both government institutions and the media. President Obama’s executive order, which he announced in his speech after the White House sent reporters a preview, aims to curb this activity as well as more pedestrian hacking threats.

“America must also face the rapidly growing threat from cyber-attacks,” Mr. Obama declared. “We know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private e-mail. We know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate secrets. Now our enemies are also seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, and our air traffic control systems. We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy. Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/12 11:46pm

Strategery

US-POLITICS-OBAMA-STATE OF THE UNION

In State of the Union, Obama Makes Controversial Issues All About the Benjamins

In his State of the Union address this evening, President Barack Obama addressed several hot-button political issues including climate change, immigration reform and gun control. Overall, the president’s speech struck a populist tone, but when bringing up his proposals to address some of these more controversial issues, he characterized them as making good business sense. Read More

By Colin Campbell and Hunter Walker 2/12 10:55pm

Foreign Affairs

(photo: whitehouse.gov)

President Obama Promises an End to the War in Afghanistan and ‘Firm Action’ on North Korea and Iran

In his State of the Union speech tonight, President Barack Obama addressed many of the most pressing issues on the world stage including the tense diplomatic situations in Iran and North Korea and the War on Terror in Afghanistan.

On the campaign trail, President Obama vowed to pull all American troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. However, shortly after the election, the White House said they would not be able to commit to a specific withdrawal schedule in Afghanistan. Addressing the nation tonight, President Obama returned to his campaign promise and said the remaining U.S. troops in that country would be withdrawn in the next 22 months. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/12 9:47pm

Cash Money

(Photo: Getty)

Obama Proposes $9.00 Minimum Wage

Step aside Governor Andrew Cuomo, President Barack Obama has one-upped your minimum wage proposal.

In his State of the Union speech tonight, Mr. Obama unveiled a number of initiatives, including a new national minimum wage rate of $9.00 an hour, raised from the previous minimum of $7.25.

“We know our economy is stronger when we reward an honest day’s work with honest wages,” Mr. Obama says in his prepared remarks. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/25/12 2:54pm

Feedback

Governor Cuomo (Photo: Getty)

Governor Cuomo Responds To President Obama’s State Of The Union Address

Governor Andrew Cuomo praised the “bold vision to strengthen the national economy, grow America’s middle class, and protect consumers” in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last night in a statement released shortly after the speech.

“The President is right to put private sector growth at the center of his agenda to create jobs, and his address laid out specific steps to build our country’s economy not just for today but for future generations as well,” Governor Cuomo said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/25/12 10:31am

NY-9

Congressman Bob Turner (Getty)

Bob Turner Calls State Of The Union ‘More Rhetoric Than Realistic Policy’

Republican Congressman Bob Turner was not impressed with President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. He released a statement after the speech criticizing it as “more rhetoric than realistic policy.”

“The loss of the Keystone Pipeline project, the implementation of job killing regulations and the President’s healthcare plan have left our economy stagnant and Americans uncertain,” Congressman Turner said. “Instead of addressing these issues, President Obama plans to add more regulations, red tape and complicated tax policy into his plan increasing our country’s economic uncertainty.” Read More