The president's budget is his opening argument, an offer, a blueprint and, in the end, a liberal wish list that is likely to be brushed off or ignored by the Republican-controlled Congress. But in the budget, not all items are created equal. Here are some of the president's proposals that are most likely to be dismissed on the spot by the GOP.
1. $1 Billion to Stop the Root Causes of Illegal Immigration: Obama wants to send $1 billion to Central America, including El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, to develop a "long-term strategy" to halt illegal immigration before it starts. In his plan, the money would be used to enhance "economic opportunities" and build "more democratic, accountable, transparent, and effective public institutions" in countries where the U.S. has seen large numbers of migrants in recent years. The money would also be used to crack down on human smuggling.
Why it's a pipe dream: Trust between the White House and the GOP has deteriorated substantially over the last year when it comes to how to tackle immigration. After thousands of unaccompanied minors fled over the border and spilled into southern Texas, Republicans used the influx as an example of how uncontrolled the border was. They passed a border bill in August that increased border-control spending. The legislation also included $40 million to help Central American countries repatriate children and halt the exodus of young people from their borders. However, $1 billion is substantially more than $40 million. After Obama announced in November that he would block the deportation of millions of immigrants already here illegally, it's unlikely the president will find a willing partner to touch anything related to immigration.