| Domestic Policy | Foreign Policy |
| · Strengthened border security (“wall funding” bill)
· Reduced taxation to continue economic growth · Tax reductions for blue-collar families · Economy-side legislation? (certain groups succeeding in higher numbers than in the past) · Deregulation · Eliminate the “death tax;” Tax Cuts and Jobs Act · Nationwide paid family leave · Intentions to nominate individuals to courts · First Step Act (signed) · Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act & other abortion regulations · U.S. is succeeding in oil and natural gas, implying legislation supporting this development · “Cutting-edge” infrastructure · Reducing the price of prescription drugs · School choice (nationwide) · Paid family leave
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· U.S.-China Trade Deal (or significant renegotiation)
· Increase defense budget · Ensure full participation (monetarily) of NATO members · Venezuela (action possible?) · Defeat ISIS but withdraw troops from Syria · Stop anti-Semitism (support Israel?)
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In his State of the Union address, President Trump openly expressed a willingness to work in a bipartisan capacity to address rising prescription drug prices, improve infrastructure, and fight diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer. He also implied a willingness to work towards further criminal justice reform when he pointed out Matthew Charles, a black man who was freed from prison because of the bipartisan First Step Act. In a notably bipartisan declaration, Trump informed Congress and the American people that he would include in his budget plan an act delineating paid family leave, an unprecedented act if it were passed that would no doubt have appeal across the aisle. The fine print of this inclusion is that it would also require the budget to provide funds for the construction of the controversial southern border wall, which makes this seem like more of an enticement crafted to appease Democrats in Congress than a bona fide act of bipartisanship. Although not necessarily indicating a direct involvement in the future, he also applauded the increase in job creation and congressional participation for women. With the exception of these key issues, however, Donald Trump did not signal any real openness to compromising with the House’s Democratic majority. Although some may claim that his discussion on border security constitutes compromise, it is still largely on his terms.
Most of Trump’s stances on executive versus congressional power were made evident in his discussion of border security and immigration. Although he says that “now is the time for Congress to show the world that America is committed to ending illegal immigration,” which acknowledges Congress’ prerogative, he declares that their will ought to be aligned with his vision of immigration security. As the recent government shutdown (and potential future shutdown) indicates, this is simply untrue. He sees that “Congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our Government,” but only if their bill includes his urgently-demanded funding for constructing a border wall. Using his Executive powers, he “ordered another 3,750 troops to our southern border” to provide additional security. He therefore sees his most pressing issues as requiring the full exercise of these powers, even if it grinds against the check provided by Congress and their Constitutional responsibility to ultimately pass and enact legislation. He also praises the work of the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, which falls under the Executive branch, in apprehending illegal immigrants. Because they fall more centrally under his command, he is more apt to laud them for their accomplishments, which are reflective of his priorities as President and head of the Executive branch.
Stacey Abrams responded succinctly to President Trump’s speech, addressing several key Democratic counterpoints. Although he glaringly failed to mention it in his speech, she decries the plight of furloughed federal employees as a result of the government shutdown, for which Democrats overwhelmingly believe the President is responsible. She echoes his sentiments on coming together as people and as Americans first, rather than allowing political parties to determine our sense of identity. Nonetheless, she states that the Republican administration is responsible for failing to cooperate, reacting “timidly” to gun violence, and creating taxation and economic burdens that fall unfairly on the shoulders of the middle and lower class. Furthermore, she lambasts the administration for “[choosing] to cage children and tear families apart” and reacting negatively to immigrants. She then lists off three core Democratic issues; the Affordable Care Act, climate change legislation, and LGBT defense; as three areas where the government has not acted justifiably. Interestingly, much of her rhetoric uses the pro-America, pro-unity flair that Trump used in his own speech. She also discusses criminal justice reform, which the President himself praised with the aforementioned reference to Charles and the FSA. However, given the shorter time allotted to her rebuttal, she is much more apt to speak to specific policies and issues that she feels are being neglected than Donald Trump, who used pathos-laden clichés on America’s greatness and how people should come together instead of being torn apart by their differences. A number of these issues were scarcely mentioned by Trump in his actual speech, which makes this so-called ‘rebuttal’ seem more anthemic than reactionary in some respects.
As President Trump fleetingly mentioned, the elimination of the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act leaves states to decide how they will react with a reduced pool of funding for upholding affordable healthcare. Maryland must contend with these changes in the General Assembly. The issue of mandatory paid leave also came up in Trump’s State of the Union. Although he was speaking of supporting paid leave for childbirth, this issue is relevant to Maryland’s state legislative agenda because there is currently a stalemate between Governor Larry Hogan and Democratic members over passing a bill requiring paid sick leave. President Trump did not bring up the issue of legalizing medical marijuana, an issue that is of great import at the state level. His recent statements outside of the speech have indicated that he would favor sweeping legalization.