The White House has indicated that the US President, George W Bush, is preparing to push forward with what are described as 'bold' domestic policy plans in his annual State of the Union speech to both Houses of Congress tonight.
A spokesman said Mr Bush would spend 'significant time' in his speech defending his decision to send more than 20,000 extra troops to Iraq.
But the president would also call for sweeping immigration reform and for an overhaul of the US healthcare system, the spokesman said.
Mr Bush is also expected to try to placate critics of his environmental policies by pushing for increased use of alternatives to oil.
For the first time since he took office six years ago, Mr Bush will deliver his annual speech to a Congress controlled by opposition Democrats, at a time when his approval ratings have hit all-time lows because of the war in Iraq.
