Obama vows to act without Congress in State of the Union speech

In his State of the Union address, President Obama vowed to take steps without Congress “whenever and wherever” necessary to narrow economic disparities between the wealthy and poor. He unveiled an array of executive actions that included increasing the minimum wage for some federal contract workers and making it easier for millions of low-income Americans to save for retirement. “America does not stand still and neither do I,” Obama declared in his annual prime-time address before a joint session of Congress and millions of Americans watching on television. Photo: President Barack Obama delivers the State of Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber Tuesday, as Vice President Joe Biden, and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, listen. (Larry Downing, Pool / AP Photo) AP