In front of a joint session of Congress, executive branch officials, Supreme Court justices and dozens of guests, President Obama laid out his priorities for the upcoming year in his State of the Union Address.

President Obama’s biggest proposal is a plan to hike taxes on the wealthiest to pay for middle class tax cuts.

“Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?” Obama said.

The plan would close the so-called “Trust Fund Loophole,” which would bring in hundreds of billions of dollars on previously untaxed assets that are inherited. Obama’s plan also raises the top capital gains and dividends tax rate about 5 percent to 28 percent. Obama also wants to propose a fee on the biggest banks in the country, which would make it more costly for them to borrow money.

Those three proposals would bring in an extra $320 billion in revenue. Obama wants to provide tax cuts to middle class families, proposing a $500 tax credit to families who have both spouses working. Another proposal would expand the Child Care Tax Credit, giving up to a $3,000 credit per child under five years old. 

The extra revenue would also pay for Obama’s proposal to provide two free years of community college, a plan he unveiled in one of his preview speeches to the State of the Union.

“The verdict is clear. Middle-class economics works. Expanding opportunity works,” Obama said.

Obama said these policies will continue to work, but only if politics does not get in the way.

“I don’t think the Democrats have any realistic chance that they are going to get anything like this passed,” said Mack Shelley, professor of political science at Iowa State. “But, raising taxes on the wealthy is not something that most of the public opposes. That resonates pretty well.”

Iowa’s newly elected U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst was chosen to give the official Republican response.

“There’s a lot we can achieve if we work together. Let’s sell more of what we make and grow in America over there so we can boost manufacturing, wages and jobs. Let’s iron out loopholes to lower rates and create jobs, not pay for more government spending,” Ernst said. “The president has already expressed some support for these kinds of ideas. We’re calling on him now to cooperate to pass them.”

Obama also spent time talking about cyber security issues, a topic that has garnered massive news coverage following the “hack-attack” on Sony Pictures.

“No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets, or invade the privacy of American families. We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism,” Obama said. “Tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks, combat identity theft and protect our children’s information.”

Obama also discussed his plan to expand broadband access across the U.S., which he gave a speech previewing in Cedar Falls last week.

“I intend to protect a free and open Internet, extend its reach to every classroom, and every community and help folks build the fastest networks, so that the next generation of digital innovators and entrepreneurs have the platform to keep reshaping our world,” Obama said.

Obama also spent time talking about foreign policy, including the ongoing battle against ISIL, sometimes referred to as ISIS, and supporting opposition forces in Syria.

“In Iraq and Syria, American leadership — including our military power — is stopping ISIL’s advance. Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group,” Obama said. 

Obama called on Congress to specifically pass a resolution that would authorize the use of force against ISIL.

Throughout his speech, Obama touted a growing economy and also discussed infrastructure, America being less dependent on foreign oil, equal pay and raising the minimum wage, winding down combat in Afghanistan, American troops fighting Ebola and climate change.

Obama also called on Congress to end the embargo with Cuba.

“Our shift in Cuba policy has the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere, removes a phony excuse for restrictions in Cuba, stands up for democratic values and extends the hand of friendship to the Cuban people,” Obama said. “This year, Congress should begin the work of ending the embargo.”

Obama also stressed he would continue to persue his goal of closing the detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

In her response, Ernst said the newly elected Republican Congress is ready to make Washington focus on American’s concerns again.

“Americans have been hurting, but when we demanded solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like Obamacare. It’s a mindset that gave us political talking points, not serious solutions,” Ernst said.

Ernst said that Americans “will see a lot of serious work” done in the new Congress.

“But history has shown there’s nothing our nation, and our people, can’t accomplish,” Ernst said in a hint that Republicans may work together with the White House in the coming year.

Shelley said Ernst did a good job at delivering her response, unlike some Republicans in the past.

“She’s kind of been anointed as a rising star in the party. We’ll see if she continues to skyrocket to fame or fortune, or if something else happens,” Shelley said.

Shelley also took notice on the GOP response not mentioning many specific ideas.

“There wasn’t really a whole lot of factually-based, or substantive initiatives. I think that was kind of the whole point of the presentation, avoid specifics and try to project a broad welcoming image for the new Republican majority,” Shelley said. 

In the end, Obama also called on America to work “together” for a “brighter future.”

“My fellow Americans, we too are a strong, tight-knit family. We, too, have made it through some hard times. Fifteen years into this new century, we have picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and begun again the work of remaking America. We’ve laid a new foundation. A brighter future is ours to write,” Obama said. “Let’s begin this new chapter — together — and let’s start the work right now.”