Reaction Mixed In Tulsa To President's State Of The Union Proposals

Iraq, energy, and health care, in his sixth State of the Union address President Bush tried to rally the country to his side. <br/><br/>Before a Congress controlled by Democrats, and with a sinking approval

Tuesday, January 23rd 2007, 10:02 pm

By: News On 6

Iraq, energy, and health care, in his sixth State of the Union address President Bush tried to rally the country to his side.

Before a Congress controlled by Democrats, and with a sinking approval rating of just 28 percent in the last CBS News poll, the President's goal Tuesday night was regaining the trust of the American people.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day has the specifics of the President's speech, including reaction from Oklahomans on some of the issues he brought up.

Before the first Democratic-ruled Congress in a dozen years, President Bush outlined goals for his administration. He wants to make basic, private health care coverage more affordable by reforming federal tax code.

"Changing the tax code is an important and vital step in making health care affordable for Americans," the President said.

"So many people who don't have insurance, and it's really needed. If there is any way he can get it together so everybody is covered,â€ said Tulsa resident Josephine Clement.

The President also called for comprehensive immigration reform, including a temporary worker program and creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

â€œAs a result, they won't have to try to sneak in, and that will leave border agents free to chase down drug smugglers, criminals and terrorists," Bush said.

"They're going to come. It just seems like no matter what you do, they're going to come,â€ Clement said. â€œSo might as well try to legalize them, give them jobs.â€

â€œAnd pay taxes,â€ asked News on 6 anchor Craig Day.

â€œRight,â€ Clement replied.

"If he can do that, that would be perfect. Because you're not going to stop them from coming," said Patricia Al-Sharif from Broken Arrow.

The President also hopes to cut gasoline use by 20 percent, mostly through improved fuel economy and by using more ethanol.

"Should have started that a long time ago instead of waiting that crisis based management where oh my God, now we're in trouble let's do something about it,â€ Owasso resident Robin Morris said. â€œWe should have started a long time ago."

And the President pressed lawmakers to give his troop surge plan a chance to work.

"One question has surely been settled. To win the war on terror, we must take the fight to the enemy," said Bush.

"I hate to see so many young men's lives destroyed by going over there, but once you start something, you've got to finish,â€ Clement said. â€œYou just can't quit right in the middle of it. You've got to see it through to the end."

"You're going to have to pull out and let them figure out who can run it, and somebody will take over,â€ said Al-Sharif. â€œIt might not be the one they put in power, but somebody will take over. And that's where it's going to go from there, otherwise they're going to be fighting, fighting, fighting."

President Bush also asked Congress to renew his education accountability law, No Child Left Behind, and make changes that would let children in struggling public schools move to private schools.

He'll deliver a State of the Economy speech next week. It will further explain his pledges to achieve a budget surplus and to confront financial challenges facing Social Security and Medicare.