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Obama in State of the Union: Tax wealthy, help middle class
What Tennessee Republican leaders said
"I think the president ought to give two State of the Union addresses. We've pretty well heard the first one. The one with things Congress wouldn't ever do. We need to hear the one with proposals that Congress might actually do, working with the president. For example, to expand free trade so we can sell more Tennessee products overseas, simplify the student aid forms so more community college students can take advantage of Tennessee Promise, prevent cyberattacks and fix No Child Left Behind." - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. "While I know it is the tradition for presidents to address the nation in this way, I always pay closer attention to actions after these types of speeches are delivered. Tennesseans are ready for both the Congress and the White House to govern responsibly and finally focus on growing our economy, repairing our fiscal house and strengthening our nation's role in the world. It is my hope the president will recognize that the only way to solve some of the big issues we face and create a stronger, more prosperous nation for future generations is to roll up his sleeves, provide leadership and work with this new Congress. If he does that, I think we can begin to deliver real, long-lasting results for hardworking American families." - U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. "President Obama always has many things in his State of the Union that almost everyone supports, but of course the devil is in the details. "I have always strongly supported tax cuts for the middle class and making education more affordable, but raising the capital gains tax and redistributing income to pay for more government programs could hurt the overall economy. The president's 'free' health care is an example of a too-good-to-be-true plan that now has many Americans paying 50 percent more for their health insurance." - U.S. Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn. "The president addressed the nation in the State of the Union to deliver his vision for the upcoming year. Unfortunately, rather than focusing on areas where the president and Congress can work together to move the country forward, he presented a set of ideas he knows will have no chance in the new Congress. His proposals are burdensome, unproductive, and most importantly, costly. President Obama's proposed tax hikes will only hurt our economy and the American people. Rather than proposing revenue neutral tax reform, the President decided to focus on a redistributive tax increase. We need a fairer, flatter, simpler tax code that keeps money in the hands of the middle class and empowers job creators to grow and strengthen our economy." - U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.
Local residents had varied opinions on the afternoon before President Barack Obama called in his State of the Union address to raise taxes and increase benefits for those less well off.
People were most eager to talk about Obama's proposal to increase taxes by specifically targeting wealthy individuals and big financial institutions.
Twanda Jeffries, 44, said there is an argument on both sides of the issue.
"I'm on the fence," she said, standing in the Walgreens parking lot on the North Shore. "I can see it from both sides."
Jeffries said her brother is extremely wealthy, and was previously a vice president at Morgan Stanley in New York City.
"I'm not like that," she said. "I'm broke."
Jeffries said she understands how increasing taxes on her brother would take his money away -- which isn't always fair -- but also how the redistribution of that money would benefit people like her, who struggle to pay bills and buy groceries.
Jeremy Skidmore, 32, described himself as lower- to middle-class, and said it is difficult for him to scrape up the money to pay his taxes each year.
"I can barely pay my taxes," he said. "If people can afford to pay taxes they should."
Skidmore said the president's proposal to raise taxes on the rich seems fair.
Sasha Carden, 33, who owns a small business near Coolidge Park, said she fully supports taxing people in the upper brackets.
"Why not go with the Robin Hood approach?" she said. "I would gladly give money if I had it."
Umbar Shah, 41, stood in the Publix parking lot with her daughter, who attends Girls Preparatory School, and said she is willing to see taxes increase as long as the money is put to good use.
"It's not bad to be taxed more, if I know the money will be used well," she said.
On other issues, Debbee Coone, 30, said she just wants to see the amount on her Social Security check increase, by whatever means.
Emily Whitlock, a sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said she was excited to hear about the president's proposal to offer students two years of community college tuition-free.
"It's a great idea and gives everyone an opportunity," she said.
Whitlock said that in high school she completed several hours of dual-enrollment classes at a community college, and saw the benefit.
"I think everyone should have the chance to at least receive that level of education," Whitlock said.
Another small business owner on the North Shore, Carol Schaffeld, 57, said she is surprised homeland security is not a bigger focus in this year's State of the Union address.
"We should focus more on homeland security," she said. "Because of recent world events, I think that conversation needs a place on the table."
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6592.