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Bush set for key annual address Bush set for key annual address
(about 3 hours later)
US President George W Bush is preparing to deliver his seventh annual State of the Union address at a joint session of Congress in a few hours' time. US President George W Bush will deliver his seventh annual State of the Union address in a few hours' time, his first since the Democrats took over Congress.
With his popularity at an all-time low and Democrats controlling both Houses, he will be addressing a potentially hostile audience for the first time. He is expected to concentrate on domestic issues, urging his political opponents to join him in tackling the country's most profound problems.
So, correspondents say, he will focus on domestic policy, where he believes he can forge a bi-partisan consensus. Topping the agenda will be energy policy, with Mr Bush calling for a 20% cut in petrol consumption by 2017.
He will mention Iraq, but only as one element in the US-led war on terror.He will mention Iraq, but only as one element in the US-led war on terror.
Recent opinion polls suggest only one-in-three voters approve of the job the president is doing - making him more unpopular than any other president in the last 50 years, except Richard Nixon just before he resigned.Recent opinion polls suggest only one-in-three voters approve of the job the president is doing - making him more unpopular than any other president in the last 50 years, except Richard Nixon just before he resigned.
Kicking the oil addiction Alternative fuel funds
Mr Bush's waning popularity contributed to Democratic Party gains in November's mid-term elections, allowing them to seize control of both the Senate and House of Representatives.Mr Bush's waning popularity contributed to Democratic Party gains in November's mid-term elections, allowing them to seize control of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Mr Bush's advisers say he will adjust to this new political environment by devoting at least half his speech to measures which could attract bi-partisan backing.Mr Bush's advisers say he will adjust to this new political environment by devoting at least half his speech to measures which could attract bi-partisan backing.
A large part of the speech is expected to focus on energy policyA large part of his speech, scheduled for 2100 (0200 GMT Wednesday) is expected to focus on energy policy, in particular climate change and energy independence. A large part of his speech, scheduled for 2100 (0200 GMT Wednesday) will focus on energy policy, in particular climate change and energy independence.
In his State of the Union speech last year, the Texas oil man-turned president surprised many with his frank declaration that America was "addicted to oil", and that the country needed to break that addiction. A large part of the speech is expected to focus on energy policySpeaking in advance of the address, White House deputy chief of staff Joel Kaplan said Mr Bush would call for a 20% reduction in petrol use over 10 years.
This year, he is expected to signal support for raising fuel efficiency standards for cars, promise more investment in developing alternative fuels - such as ethanol - and encourage the development and production of "hybrid" gas/electric vehicles. According to Mr Kaplan, the president expects this cut to be achieved by improving passenger vehicle fuel efficiency and by increasing the use of alternative fuels - such as ethanol.
Health care challenge Mr Bush will ask Congress for $1.6bn over the decade to fund research into alternative energy and $2bn in loans for cellulosic ethanol plants.
He will also take up the Democrats' call to make the US more energy independent, and therefore less reliant on oil imports from unstable parts of the world.
But there are no indications that he will impose specific limits on greenhouse gas emissions.But there are no indications that he will impose specific limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
This will dismay not just Democrats, but some Republican-supporting industrialists who want Mr Bush to adopt a comprehensive strategy for tackling climate change, the BBC's Iain Watson in Washington says.This will dismay not just Democrats, but some Republican-supporting industrialists who want Mr Bush to adopt a comprehensive strategy for tackling climate change, the BBC's Iain Watson in Washington says.
Iraq is likely to be defended in the context of the global war on terrorMr Bush is also expected to address the difficulties an estimated 47 million Americans face in obtaining health care, proposing a tax break for the least well-off to make health insurance more affordable. Iraq plan plea
But, according to our correspondent, the money is likely to come from taxing those with generous corporate health care schemes, which could risk alienating Republican support. In order to minimise problems that could come if instability elsewhere in the world threatened US oil supplies, Mr Bush will also call for a doubling of the capacity of the US' Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2027.
As he outlines his administration's plans for the next year, Mr Bush will be unable to avoid mention of Iraq and the unpopular deployment of 21,500 more troops there, but the conflict is likely to be justified as just one element in the wider war on terror. The SPR is an emergency petroleum store with the current capacity to hold up to 727 million barrels of crude oil.
Mr Bush is also expected to address the difficulties an estimated 47 million Americans face in obtaining health care, proposing a tax break for the least well-off to make health insurance more affordable.
Iraq is likely to be defended in the context of the global war on terrorBut, according to our correspondent, the money is likely to come from taxing those with generous corporate health care schemes, which could risk alienating Republican support.
As he outlines his administration's plans for the next year, Mr Bush will be unable to avoid mention of Iraq.
But the conflict is likely to be justified as just one element in the wider war on terror, with the president calling on Democrats in Congress to back his recently announced plan to send 21,500 extra troops to Iraq.
"For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq, and the president believes his new Iraq plan is the best way to succeed," the White House said in a preview of the speech.
But it is on Iraq that members of Mr Bush's Republican party are most sceptical, our correspondent says.But it is on Iraq that members of Mr Bush's Republican party are most sceptical, our correspondent says.
And the Democrats will be keen to exploit those divisions.And the Democrats will be keen to exploit those divisions.
They have chosen Senator Jim Webb to give their official response to this year's speech . He is a former marine who narrowly defeated the Republican incumbent in Virginia on an anti-war ticket.They have chosen Senator Jim Webb to give their official response to this year's speech . He is a former marine who narrowly defeated the Republican incumbent in Virginia on an anti-war ticket.