Obama promised to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for federal contractors and to work with states, local governments, and private groups as well as Congress, to raise the minimum wage nationally, arguing better pay is needed to support the economy as well as the right thing to do.[6]
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, the highest-ranking female Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, delivered the Republican Party response to President Obama's statement.[9] The decision was made by House Speaker John Boehner and Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.[10][11] Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the first Cuban-American person elected to Congress, gave a second response, delivering most of McMorris Rodgers' response in Spanish. In addition, Utah Senator Mike Lee gave an address in response to Obama's speech on behalf of the Tea Party Express. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul released his own address on YouTube and Facebook. He had previously given a response on behalf of the Tea Party Express in 2013. The four Republican responses were interpreted as a sign of the party's ideological divisions.[12][13]
Written message with national radio address * Split into multiple parts
† Included a detailed written supplement
‡ Not officially a "State of the Union" Presidents William Henry Harrison (1841) and James Garfield (1881) died in office before delivering a State of the Union