President Barack Obama to deliver his 7th State of the Union address

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- On Tuesday, President Barack Obama is expected to deliver his seventh State of the Union address. Many will be watching how he addresses working together with a Republican-controlled congress.

At his State of the Union address in 2014, President Barack Obama pushed for immigration reform, applauded a low unemployment rate and stressed the importance of relying less on foreign oil. This year, the President is expected to touch on those issues while also focusing on improving the quality of life for the middle class.

Democratic Congressman Jim Costa, Fresno, said, "We got out of the great recession but middle class folks, working folks, finding themselves their purchasing power continuing to be limited."

Congressman Jim Costa plans to fly out Tuesday morning to be there for the President's 2015 State of the Union address. Costa hopes the President not only focuses on boosting the economy, but talks about working with the new, Republican-controlled Congress.

Rep. Costa said, "We have a divided government and the President will lay out his agenda for the year and the Republicans, of course, have their agenda for the year. I think there's opportunities to work together."

Costa hopes there can be compromise between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to tax reform, trade agreements and water issues that are critical to the Central Valley. Working together is also a hope from local Republicans, including Congressman David Valadao, who says this is the time for President Obama to have a fresh start with a new Congress.

Rep. Valadao said, "I think the President should acknowledge that the leadership in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, has now announced and plans on having open rule. He wants to have debates, he wants to have the amendment process."

Valadao also hopes the President will focus on key issues like immigration and regulatory reform.

Valadao said, "With the E.P.A., with the Endangered Species Act and our water -- those are all things that if he talks about regulatory reform would be a direct impact for us here in the valley and would help improve our situation here dramatically."

President Obama will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday. You can watch the live coverage on Action News starting at 6pm, with a Republican response following the President's speech.