Highlights from State of the Union address

Highlights of President Bush’s final State of the Union address to a joing session of Congess on Monday night:

Economy: Urged Congress to pass the $150 billion stimulus package quickly and to “make sure the tax relief that is now in place is made permanent.”

Budget: Vowed to veto any spending legislation that doesn’t cut in half the dollar amount and number of earmarks, or special projects. Will issue an executive order today directing agencies to ignore any future earmark that Congress doesn’t enact.

Military families: Proposed hiring preferences for military spouses and extending unused education benefits to spouses and children.

Education: Asked Congress to back a new $300 million “Pell Grants for Kids” program that would give scholarships to poor children in underperforming schools, allowing them to attend private or public schools of their choice.

Iraq: Wants full funding for the war. Insists that “the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago.”

Terrorism: Called the law giving the government broad authority to monitor terrorist communications “one of the most important tools we can give the men and women who protect us from attack” and urged it be extended. Law expires Friday.

Trade: Wants Congress to approve free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

Global compassion: Would double AIDS relief to certain countries and provide food assistance by purchasing crops directly from farmers in developing countries.

Source: McClatchy Newspapers