“Corporate profits have sky-rocketed to all time highs, and for more than a decade wages and incomes have barely budged. It is our generation’s task, then, to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth: a rising, thriving middle class.”

And with that, the President layed out his agenda for boosting the middle class…a massive job creation program, calls to Congress to spare entitlements while still pearing the deficit and closing tax loopholes for the rich. WOSU’s Steve Brown spoke with Democratic Congressman Joyce Beatty of Columbus about whether the proposals laid out by Mr. Obama are enough to cut the deficit and avoid sequestration.

Click the play button above to hear their conversation.