Did the State of the Union Address Local Issues?

The President led his final State of the Union last night, as expected with a discussion on the economy and his proposed economic stimulus package.  So did he, or the Democrats in their response, have anything to say that would affect cities and local government in particular?

Well, as we've all been following the mortgage meltdown and its prospective impacts on cities across the nation, discussion of addressing the housing crisis was certainly of interest.  President Bush did make mention of the HOPE NOW alliance, a cooperative effort between counselors, investors, and lenders working to stem foreclosures.  The President also called on congress to "reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages."

Bush also addressed issues such as immigration reform and homeland security that certainly affect cities, though he did not mention specific programs or initatives that might help local governments address these challenges. 

Perhaps of more interest to us in Cityland was the Democrat's response to the President's speech, delivered by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and in which she highlighted Steve Hewitt, the city manager of Greensburg, Kansas -- which was leveled by a tornado last year.  "Thanks to Steve's efforts, and hundreds of others in our state, and across the country, Greensburg will recover," said Sebelius. "Folks rolled up their sleeves and got to work, and local, state and federal governments assisted in the effort."

Sebelius also made reference to city mayors committing their cities to green development -- and good for her for recognizing the good work done by local government, and recognizing its critical role in service to our nation. 

The full text of the President's speech can be found here.
The Democrat response to his speech is here.