President Barrack Obama delivered his annual State of the Union speech on January 20 with mixed reviews. According to CNN, Obama’s speech was viewed by 30 million people across the nation via television, radio and the Internet.

In his speech, President Obama briefly recapped the first 15 years of this century in American history with emphasis on 9/11, the wars on terror and the most recent recession. He also focused on recent achievements: immediate job growth following the recession, the increase in clean energy and how, since 2008, 6 percent more students graduate high school.

In the second half of his address, Obama shared new ideas for his last years in office, including enhancing credits for child care and education, making it more affordable for parents to raise children. The proposition for American workers to be guaranteed seven paid sick days and for the first two years of community college to be free for everyone were also challenges Obama plans to put forth to Congress.

Obama took fierce opposition to conservative ideologies in his speech, including a jovial lashing to the his Republican adversaries. He plans to veto any Republican legislation that would restrict abortion, speed the approval of natural gas pipelines and roll back health care laws for Americans.

Obama’s State of the Union address centered around helping the middle class with new government policies, to help families and individuals pay for everyday necessities by lightening the burden of taxes. The President of the United States hopes to help out the middle class in his last two years in office.

Commentary on major news networks such as NBC and ABC discussed a divided chamber, including a very emotionless Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican John Boehner. Both outlets revealed that the address will be received with mix reviews, but support the push toward recognizing the middle class as the heart of American economy and life.

The State of the Union address is required by the Constitution in its second article to be given every year by the President of the United Sates of America.