Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies President and CEO, Ralph B. Everett, released the following statement on the upcoming State of the Union Address:

President Obama’s fourth State of the Union address comes at a time when the economy appears to be gathering considerable steam.  Yet enormous challenges remain in our longstanding efforts to build a better America.  We expect that the President will use this opportunity to advance his ideas for ensuring that the economic recovery works for all Americans and serves to strengthen the middle class.

Our fellow citizens want to know that the next phase of economic growth and success will be broadly shared.  Indeed, America’s economic vitality has long relied on the underlying fairness of our system, and on our efforts to promote the widest possible access to education and good jobs.  We expect that the President will speak directly to the American people about the role of government and how he will cut through the gridlock and hyper-partisanship to ensure that government responds to the interests of the people.

These are critical times and it will require the engagement of all Americans to insure a successful economic recovery. If we believe our children deserve a better future, then we must all do our part in moving America forward.