--- title: How 7 Ideas in the State of the Union Would Affect You description: From free community college to paid sick leave, President Obama is expected to announce several new policy ideas in the State of the Union. canonical: https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-01-20T10:00:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2024-03-22T07:43:22.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: How 7 Ideas in the State of the Union Would Affect You og:description: From free community college to paid sick leave. og:url: https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How 7 Ideas in the State of the Union Would Affect You twitter:description: From free community college to paid sick leave. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # How 7 Ideas in the State of the Union Would Affect You ## Video: Five Years of Obama's State of the Union [Watch (HLS stream): Five Years of Obama's State of the Union](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kvaKb5nc.m3u8) (1:29)  _Published 2015-01-19. Watch 5 years of Obama’s State of the Union addresses in 90 seconds._ by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Updated: Mar 22, 2024 7:43 AM UTCPublished: Jan 20, 2015 10:00 AM UTC by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Updated: Mar 22, 2024 7:43 AM UTCPublished: Jan 20, 2015 10:00 AM UTC President Barack Obama threw out a lot of big ideas during [Tuesday night’s State of the Union address](http://time.com/3675623/state-of-the-union-2015-barack-obama/), but how would they affect you? Here’s a quick look at seven proposals he previewed even before the speech, in order of how likely they are to be enacted soon. [See TIME’s full State of the Union coverage here](http://time.com/topic/state-of-the-union-2015/) **Reducing mortgage premiums** **The idea:** Obama proposed reducing mortgage insurance premiums on government-backed loans rates in order to make it easier for low-income Americans to buy homes. **What he’s said:** “For us, and millions of Americans like us, buying a home has always been about more than owning a roof and four walls. It’s about investing in savings, and building a family, and planting roots in a community … I’m going to take a new action to help even more responsible families stake their claim on the middle class and buy their first new home.” ([Jan. 8, 2015](http://www.c-span.org/video/?323652-1/president-obama-remarks-housing-market)) **How it would affect you:** The proposal would cut insurance fees for homes bought with Federal Housing Administration-backed loans, saving borrowers an average of $900 a year. **Will it happen:** Yes. The policy will be implemented by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is under Obama’s control. **MORE** [Obama Cuts Mortgage Insurance Premiums to Help Low-Income Home Buyers](https://time.com/personal-finance/article/what-is-private-mortgage-insurance/) **Expanding travel to Cuba** **The idea:** Obama called for normalizing relations with Cuba, a process he’s already started by easing travel and commercial restrictions with the island nation. **What he’s said:** “Neither the American, nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted in events that took place before most of us were born… I believe that we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values through engagement. After all, these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. It’s time for a new approach.” ([Dec. 17, 2014](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/17/statement-president-cuba-policy-changes)) **How it would affect you:** You will soon be able to catch a flight directly to Cuba without getting a special license, use credit and debit cards there and bring back cigars. **Will it happen:** Mostly. Obama has already taken steps to restore relations with Cuba, although Congress is unlikely to lift the 54-year-old trade embargo anytime soon. **MORE** [U.S. And Cuba Move to Thaw Relations After Prisoner Exchange](http://time.com/3637483/alan-gross-cuba-barack-obama/) **Cutting methane emissions** **The idea:** Obama called for reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas industry by fixing leaky equipment and reducing “flaring” of natural gas. **What he’s said:** Speaking about a photograph of Earth from space: “And that image in the photograph, that bright blue ball rising over the moon’s surface, containing everything we hold dear — the laughter of children, a quiet sunset, all the hopes and dreams of posterity — that’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for.” ([June 25, 2013](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/25/remarks-president-climate-change)) **How it would affect you:** Depending on where you live, the proposal could raise your energy rates. It would also reduce a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. **Will it happen:** Likely. The proposal is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard rules-making process, which Obama oversees. **MORE** [White House Targets Methane to Slow Climate Change](http://time.com/3666896/methane-greenhouse-gas-obama/) **Preventing ‘fast lanes’ on the Internet** **The idea:** Obama called for the Federal Communications Commission to reclassify broadband Internet as a utility, which would give regulators more power over providers like Comcast. **What he’s said:** “High-speed broadband is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. … This is about helping local businesses grow and prosper and compete in a global economy. It’s about giving the entrepreneur, the small businessperson on Main Street a chance to compete with the folks out in Silicon Valley, or across the globe.” ([Jan. 14, 2015](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/14/remarks-president-promoting-community-broadband)) **How it would affect you:** Some Internet providers want to offer so-called “fast lanes” for customers who pay more. This proposal would likely bar that. **Will it happen?** Unclear. The FCC is an independent agency, but Obama’s backing gives the idea much more prominence in the debate. **MORE** [All Your Questions About Obama’s Internet Plan Answered](http://time.com/3575950/obama-internet-net-neutrality/) **Notifying consumers of data hacks** **The idea:** Obama called on Congress to pass the Personal Data Notification and Protection Act, which would require companies to notify customers within 30 days if they’d been hacked. **What he’s said:** “If we’re going to be connected, then we need to be protected. As Americans, we shouldn’t have to forfeit our basic privacy when we go online to do our business.” ([Jan. 12, 2015](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/12/remarks-president-federal-trade-commission)) **How it would affect you:** Over the last year, JPMorgan Chase, Target, Home Depot and P.F. Chang’s have all had data breaches. You might hear sooner about those if they affect you. **Will it happen:** Unclear. Many states already require companies notify affected customers, so it’s not too heavy of a lift to call for a national standard. **MORE** [The One Foolproof Thing You Can Do to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft](http://time.com/money/3461200/jp-morgan-data-breach-identity-theft/) **Making community college free** **The idea:** Obama proposed the federal government work with states to offer two years of free community-college tuition to students who maintain good grades. **What he’s said:** “For millions of Americans, community colleges are essential pathways to the middle class because they’re local, they’re flexible. They work for people who work full-time. They work for parents who have to raise kids full-time. They work for folks who have gone as far as their skills will take them and want to earn new ones…” ([Jan. 9, 2015](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/09/remarks-president-americas-college-promise)) **How it would affect you:** If you’re looking to go to community college, you could save $3,800 a year on tuition. You could then use existing financial aid programs for housing and books. **Will it happen:** Unlikely. Congressional Republicans are not likely to go along with the plan, which would cost up to $60 billion over 10 years. **MORE** [Obama Proposes 2 Years of Free Community College](http://time.com/3660891/obama-proposes-free-community-college/) **Offering paid sick leave** **The idea:** Obama called on Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act, which would require companies to offer workers an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work. **What he’s said:** “There are 43 million Americans who don’t get paid sick leave, which when you think about it is a pretty astonishing statistic. And that means that no matter how sick they are, or how sick a family member is, they may find themselves having to choose to be able to buy groceries or pay the rent, or look after themselves or their children.” ([Jan. 15, 2015](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/15/remarks-president-working-families-21st-century-economy)) **How it would affect you:** Right now, most employers are required to offer up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for family health problems, but many workers can’t afford to take it. **Will it happen:** Unlikely. Hill Republicans are unlikely to even allow a vote on the bill, which had only Democratic sponsors in the last Congress. **MORE** [President Obama Wants You to Get Paid, Even When You’re on Leave](http://time.com/money/3669011/obama-maternity-leave-sick-leave/) ### Photos: The Curse of the State of the Union Response  House Speaker Jim Wright gave the response to George H.W. Bush in 1989\. He resigned later that year after an ethics scandal. Terry Ashe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Rep. Bob Michel gave the response to Bill Clinton in 1993\. Facing fights with other Republicans, he declined to run for re-election the next year. Terry Ashe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Sen. Bob Dole gave the response to Clinton in 1996\. Later that year, he ran against Clinton and lost. Charlie Neibergall—AP  House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (shown on TV) gave the response to George W. Bush in 2002\. After Democrats lost seats that fall, he stepped down from leadership. Scott J. Ferrell—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images  Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius gave the response to Bush in 2008\. The next year, she became Secretary Health and Human Services, where she oversaw the disastrous launch of HealthCare.gov. AP  Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal gave the response to Barack Obama in 2009\. It was poorly received, setting back his national prospects. AP  Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell gave the response to Obama in 2010\. He was recently sentenced to two years in prison in a corruption case. Steve Helber—AP  Rep. Michele Bachmann gave the unofficial tea party response to Obama in 2011\. The next year, she came in last in the Iowa presidential caucuses. AP  Rep. Paul Ryan gave the official response to Obama in 2011\. The following year, he ran for vice president and lost. AP  Sen. Marco Rubio gave the response to Obama in 2013\. His awkward drink of water midway through was much ridiculed. AP _Read next:_ [_Here’s the Full Text of President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union_](http://time.com/3675705/full-text-state-union-2015/?xid=time%5Freadnext) [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/"},"headline":"How 7 Ideas in the State of the Union Would Affect You","datePublished":"2015-01-20T10:00:56.000Z","dateModified":"2024-03-22T07:43:22.000Z","description":"From free community college to paid sick leave, President Obama is expected to announce several new policy ideas in the State of the Union.","url":"https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/","keywords":["White House","Congress","climate change","Internet","state of the union","Cuba topic","home ownership","community college","identity theft"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ryan Teague Beckwith","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/white-house/","name":"White House"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/","name":"How 7 Ideas in the State of the Union Would Affect You"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Five Years of Obama's State of the Union","description":"Watch 5 years of Obama’s State of the Union addresses in 90 seconds.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/kvaKb5nc/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-01-19T19:19:23.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kvaKb5nc.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/","duration":"PT1M29S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3670372/state-union-obama-ideas/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```