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Obama: GOP budget would make life harder for middle-class Americans Obama: GOP budget would make life harder for middle-class Americans
(5 months later)
President Barack Obama on Saturday used his weekly presidential address to criticise the Republican budget proposal released this week by Congressman Paul Ryan, saying it would shrink opportunity and make life harder for middle-class Americans. There was discouraging news for Obama and congressional Democrats, however, in the release of an Associated Press-GfK poll that showed Republican gains since January.President Barack Obama on Saturday used his weekly presidential address to criticise the Republican budget proposal released this week by Congressman Paul Ryan, saying it would shrink opportunity and make life harder for middle-class Americans. There was discouraging news for Obama and congressional Democrats, however, in the release of an Associated Press-GfK poll that showed Republican gains since January.
The AP-GfK poll, which was carried out in March, eight months ahead of this year's midterm elections, showed 37% of respondents saying they would prefer Republicans to be in control of Congress, to 36% in favour of Democrat control. The previous such poll, carried out in January, gave Democrats a 37% to 32% lead.The AP-GfK poll, which was carried out in March, eight months ahead of this year's midterm elections, showed 37% of respondents saying they would prefer Republicans to be in control of Congress, to 36% in favour of Democrat control. The previous such poll, carried out in January, gave Democrats a 37% to 32% lead.
Among registered voters most strongly interested in politics, Republicans were favoured by 51% to 37%. In January, such voters scored 42% Democrat to 45% Republican.Among registered voters most strongly interested in politics, Republicans were favoured by 51% to 37%. In January, such voters scored 42% Democrat to 45% Republican.
In his address, Obama said: “The budget I sent Congress earlier this year is built on the idea of opportunity for all. It will grow the middle class and shrink the deficits we’ve already cut in half since I took office.” In his address, Obama said: “The budget I sent Congress earlier this year is built on the idea of opportunity for all. It will grow the middle class and shrink the deficits we’ve already cut in half since I took office.”
He added: “This week, the Republicans in Congress put forward a very different budget. And it does just the opposite: it shrinks opportunity and makes it harder for Americans who work hard to get ahead.” He added: “This week, the Republicans in Congress put forward a very different budget. And it does just the opposite: it shrinks opportunity and makes it harder for Americans who work hard to get ahead.”
At the end of a week in which he sought to highlight progress under his signature healthcare reform, despite its troubled rollout, Obama continued: “Unsurprisingly, the Republican budget also tries to repeal the Affordable Care Act – even though that would take away health coverage from the more than seven million Americans who’ve done the responsible thing and signed up to buy health insurance.”At the end of a week in which he sought to highlight progress under his signature healthcare reform, despite its troubled rollout, Obama continued: “Unsurprisingly, the Republican budget also tries to repeal the Affordable Care Act – even though that would take away health coverage from the more than seven million Americans who’ve done the responsible thing and signed up to buy health insurance.”
This week also saw a lacklustre monthly jobs report for March, in which the US added 192,000 jobs but unemployment remained at 6.7%.This week also saw a lacklustre monthly jobs report for March, in which the US added 192,000 jobs but unemployment remained at 6.7%.
In the Republican weekly address, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina focused on federal job-training programmes, saying they were scattered, bureaucratic and inefficient.In the Republican weekly address, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina focused on federal job-training programmes, saying they were scattered, bureaucratic and inefficient.
According to the AP-GfK poll, favourable impressions of the Republican party have also improved – after a nadir in September and October, around the government shutdown – as 38% of all respondents said they held a favourable impression of the GOP and 72% of Republicans said they had a positive view of their own party, up from 57% in January.According to the AP-GfK poll, favourable impressions of the Republican party have also improved – after a nadir in September and October, around the government shutdown – as 38% of all respondents said they held a favourable impression of the GOP and 72% of Republicans said they had a positive view of their own party, up from 57% in January.
Republicans still trail Democrats on general favourability, however, and the general view of Congress painted by the poll was not a positive one: 16% said they approved of the body, while 82% disapproved.Republicans still trail Democrats on general favourability, however, and the general view of Congress painted by the poll was not a positive one: 16% said they approved of the body, while 82% disapproved.
The poll also asked respondents for their impressions of 19 potential 2016 presidential candidates. In an underwhelming response on an issue much-debated in the media, presumed Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton scored highest, with 46% of respondents viewing her favourably to 39% unfavourably.The poll also asked respondents for their impressions of 19 potential 2016 presidential candidates. In an underwhelming response on an issue much-debated in the media, presumed Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton scored highest, with 46% of respondents viewing her favourably to 39% unfavourably.
Ryan, the vice-presidential pick of the beaten nominee in 2012, Mitt Romney, faired best of all Republicans in the poll, none of whom gained a net positive reaction from all respondents. The Wisconsin representative was viewed favourably by 27% of respondents and unfavourably by 29%. Among Republicans, Ryan and the former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee scored most highly.Ryan, the vice-presidential pick of the beaten nominee in 2012, Mitt Romney, faired best of all Republicans in the poll, none of whom gained a net positive reaction from all respondents. The Wisconsin representative was viewed favourably by 27% of respondents and unfavourably by 29%. Among Republicans, Ryan and the former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee scored most highly.