Highlights of Bush’s State of the Union address

Energy

Reduce U.S. gasoline usage by up to 20 percent by 2017. Do this mainly by sharply increasing the amount of ethanol and other alternative fuels the federal government mandates must be produced. The rest of the reduction is to come from raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars.

Double the Strategic Petroleum Reserve capacity to 1.5 billion barrels, and fill it, by 2027, as a cushion in case of oil-market disruptions, such as from natural disaster or terrorist attack.

Health

Make employer-financed health care benefits taxable income after a deduction of $15,000 for families and $7,500 for individuals. The White House says more people could afford health care, and most workers with health insurance through their jobs would get a tax cut. But some workers would see a tax increase or be forced to switch to a less generous health plan.

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Shift federal money now going to hospitals and other facilities and give it to states for programs to reduce the number of uninsured.

Foreign policy

Characterize the war in Iraq as part of a war on terror that threatens Americans’ safety.

Acknowledge the skepticism in the public and in Congress about his war strategy and prod lawmakers to give it a chance to work.

Call on the Iraqi government to meet benchmarks of progress, but without set consequences.

Immigration

Call on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, including a temporary worker program for foreign workers.

Create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Those seeking citizenship would have to learn English, pay taxes, pass a background check and a hold a job for a number of years to be eligible.

Education

Change the No Child Left Behind law to let poor children in persistently struggling schools transfer to private schools if they want.

Crack down on the schools that have failed to meet goals for several years by requiring them to replace their staff or change their school’s governance.

Spending

Switch to federal budget surpluses after years of deficits by 2012.

Cut in half the number of “earmarked” congressional projects by the end of this session.

Challenge Congress to work with Bush on reforming entitlements such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security that will soon drain the budget.

Military

Add 65,000 soldiers to the U.S. Army and 27,000 Marines in five years.