Obama Speaks Even if GOP Isn’t Listening

Zeke Miller: “Obama’s address, spread over an hour and six minutes, read like a laundry list of prior policy announcements, from job training and education programs to mortgage relief, health care and raising the minimum wage. But there is little appetite in Washington for making these programs a reality. The administration sees value in just talking about them.”

“Officials are approaching the speeches as part of a coordinated, campaign-style effort to gain the upper hand in the looming fiscal fights over the debt limit and the budget this fall. The White House wants to increase funding from the current levels under sequestration, but House Republicans are opposed to any measure that would raise taxes to pay for a fix.”

Wonk Wire: Obama signals new perspective on the economy.