Breaking News: Obama to tout economic success during State of the Union address

Obama to tout economic success during State of the Union address Los Angeles Times | January 20, 2015 | 3:45 PM President Obama will declare tonight that the "verdict is clear" that his economic policies have been good for the country during a State of the Union address that argues for keeping the course for the rest of his presidency. "Middle-class economics works," Obama is to say, according to speech excerpts released Tuesday in advance of his address. "Expanding opportunity works. And these policies will continue to work, as long as politics don't get in the way." Obama's speech will include a proposal for free community college, expanded child-care tax credits, a push for paid leave and a proposed tax increase on the wealthy to help pay for programs the White House argues will help a battered middle class participate in the economic turnaround. "At this moment -- with a growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production -- we have risen from recession freer to write our own future than any other nation on Earth," Obama is to say. "It's now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years, and for decades to come." Read the excerpts For the latest information go to www.latimes.com.