Obama's State of the Union 2013 address sets out vision to support a 'thriving middle class' Obama slammed Congress for failing to compromise on a budget as he called for greater spending on education and infrastructure Called for an increase in the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 and an expansion of early education to children ages four and older Announced new steps to reduce U.S. military presence abroad, with 34,000 American troops withdrawing from Afghanistan within a year Called for greater gun controls with personal tribute to Chicago girl slain shortly after performing in inauguration By Hayley Peterson A politically emboldened President Obama railed against Congress on Tuesday for its lack of compromise on budget cuts as he called for greater investments in education and infrastructure that he promised would be 'fully paid for.' 'Nothing I'm proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime,' Obama said during his State of the Union address. 'It's not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth.' In a broad-ranging speech that lasted just over an hour, Obama grew emotional at times as he rallied for immigration reform, tighter gun controls, an increase in the minimum wage and greater energy independence. President Obama railed against Congress on Tuesday for its lack of compromise on budget cuts as he called for greater investments in education and research, saying every one of his proposals is 'fully paid for.' Key inclusions: Apple CEO Tim Cook (top left) and the parents of slain teenager Hadiya Pendleton, Nathaniel and Cleopatra Pendleton (bottom left) were seated directly next to Michelle Obama. She was flanked by her In a broad-ranging speech that lasted just over an hour, Obama grew emotional at times as he rallied for immigration reform, tighter gun controls, an increase in the minimum wage and greater energy independence While he lauded the nation's economic recovery, saying 'rubble of crisis' has been cleared, he acknowledged that America has a long way to go before the strength of its middle class is restored. 'It is our generation's task... to reignite the true engine of America's economic growth - a rising, thriving middle class,' Obama said. 'We gather here knowing that there are millions of Americans whose hard work and dedication have not yet been rewarded,' he added. 'Our economy is adding jobs - but too many people still can't find full-time employment. Corporate profits have rocketed to all-time highs - but for more than a decade, wages and incomes have barely budged. He scolded Republicans who believe 'we [can] just cut our way to prosperity,' saying cuts alone without new investments and new revenues would 'devastate' the economy. 'The greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next,' he said, slamming Congress for its inability to compromise on the budget. VIDEO President Obama's new minimum wage proposals... First Lady Michelle Obama is welcomed to the House Chamber as she prepares to hear her husband deliver his first State of the Union since winning re-election he lauded the nation's economic recovery, saying 'rubble of crisis' has been cleared, Familiar faces: Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband astronaut Mark Kelly wore green ribbons in honor of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting Obama shakes hands with House Speaker John Boehner as Vice President Joe Biden looks on before delivering his address Obama specifically called for an expansion of early education to children as young as four years old and he announced new steps to reduce the U.S. military presence abroad, with 34,000 American troops withdrawing from Afghanistan within a year. He also promised aggressive policies to lift as many as 15 million people out of poverty by raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9 an hour. 'Tonight, let's declare that in the wealthiest nation on earth, no one who works full time should have to live in poverty,' Obama said. This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting ahead. Expanding on another one of his key priorities for his second term, he discussed the need for stronger border security and and a new pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the U.S. VIDEO President Obama's State of the Union address... SEQUESTER CUTS: 'These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness. They'd devastate priorities like education, energy, and medical research. They would certainly slow our recovery, and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs. GUN CONTROL: 'I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming majorities of Americans - Americans who believe in the 2nd Amendment - have come together around commonsense reform - like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun ... Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. TAX REFORM: 'The American people deserve a tax code that helps small businesses spend less time filling out complicated forms, and more time expanding and hiring; a tax code that ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can't pay a lower rate than their hard-working secretaries; a tax code that lowers incentives to move jobs overseas, and lowers tax rates for businesses and manufacturers that create jobs right here in America.' CLIMATE CHANGE: 'I urge this Congress to pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago. But if Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy. IMMIGRATION: 'Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship - a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally. And real reform means fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods, reduce bureaucracy, and attract the highly skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy. MINIMUM WAGE: 'Tonight, let's declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9.00 an hour.' AFGHANISTAN: 'Tonight, I can announce that over the next year, another 34,000 American troops will come home from Afghanistan. This drawdown will continue. And by the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over. CYBER SECURITY: 'Earlier today, I signed a new executive order that will strengthen our cyber defenses by increasing information sharing, and developing standards to protect our national security, our jobs, and our privacy. Now, Congress must act as well, by passing legislation to give our government a greater capacity to secure our networks and deter attacks. VOTING LAWS: 'I'm announcing a non-partisan commission to improve the voting experience in America. And I'm asking two long-time experts in the field, who've recently served as the top attorneys for my campaign and for Governor Romney's campaign, to lead it.' He also promised aggressive policies to lift as many as 15 million people out of poverty by raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9 an hour Obama specifically called for an expansion of early education to children as young as four years old and he announced new steps to reduce the U.S. military presence abroad 'Real reform means strong border security,' Obama said of immigration reform. Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship - a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally. In what was the most emotional part of his address, Obama repeated his calls for stronger gun controls 'to protect our most precious resource - our children.' 'This is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence,' Obama said. But two months after the shooting of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., he said, 'This time is different.' He paid a special tribute to Hadiya Pendleton, the 15-year-old Chicago girl who was gunned down outside her school less than a week after performing at the presidential inauguration. Pendleton's parents attended the State of the Union address and sat with First Lady Michelle Obama. 'Hadiya's parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence,' Obama said. They deserve a vote [on gun control]. Vice President Joe Biden (left) and US Speaker of the House John Boehner (right) of Ohio talk prior to Obama's speech Obama prepares his State of the Union address The crowd stood and clapped as Obama continued, 'Gabby Giffords deserves a vote.' The families of Newtown deserve a vote. Immediately following Obama's remarks, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio attacked him for having an 'obsession' with raising taxes. 'The real cause of our debt is that our government has been spending $1 trillion dollars more than it takes in every year,' Rubio said in the official GOP response to Obama's State of the Union address. 'That's why I hope the president will abandon his obsession with raising taxes and instead work with us to achieve real growth in our economy.' In a rebuttal to Obama's repeated claims that Republicans are only concerned with protecting the wealthy, Rubio said, 'Mr. President, I still live in the same working class neighborhood I grew up in. My neighbors aren't millionaires. They're retirees who depend on Social Security and Medicare.' Michelle Obama and Dr Jill Biden were surrounded by noted guests Immediately following Obama's remarks, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio attacked him for having an 'obsession' with raising taxes He added: 'So Mr. President, I don't oppose your plans because I want to protect the rich. I oppose your plans because I want to protect my neighbors. Another one of Obama's critics, Justice Antonin Scalia, opted not to attend the address, calling the whole thing 'childish.' Scalia, one of three justices who did not attend, bemoaned that the State of the Union address 'has turned into a childish spectacle, and I don't think that I want to be there to lend dignity to it.' 'The State of the Union is not something I write on my calendar,' Scalia said during remarks before the Smithsonian Associates at George Washington University. But he quipped, 'I didn't set this up tonight just to upstage the president.' VIDEO Obama announces Afghanistan troop withdrawal