Obama unveils $447 billion jobs plan

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

President Obama made an impassioned appeal on Thursday night for $447 billion in tax cuts and government spending to boost the lagging economic recovery, calling on lawmakers to put politics aside and work together to solve the nation’s jobs crisis.

Before a Joint Session of Congress, the president unveiled a package of tax cuts for employers and employees, spending on schools and roads, aid to states to keep teachers employed, and assistance for the jobless.

In a plain-spoken speech, Obama repeatedly insisted that lawmakers approve the plan, which is composed slightly more of tax cuts than new spending. The program includes the repackaging of some previous Obama proposals and the extension of other exisiting initiatives, including the temporary payroll tax cuts for employees enacted last year. But he also called for several significant new steps, such as enlarging that tax cut to provide $1,500 in savings for the average family and offering another tax cut for businesses that hire new employees.

“The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working,” Obama said. “It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled, and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services. You should pass this jobs plan right away.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-unveils-447-billion-jobs-plan/2011/09/08/gIQAQhI7CK_story.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[underpants]

2. Someone has to put money into the system. Banks won't. Private industy won't. Great speech too.

you have to get money into the system and it has been stagnant for 3 years. The "Stimulus" kept us above water - barely.


You need money in the system and in the right places. He has the right idea. I loved the "You have to pass this bill" repeated over and over, repeating something 16 times is a time tested sales technique.

Boehner looked like he was startled awake several times and his eyes covered the room pleading for "tell me what you freaks want to do". He has no control and it shows.

[RKP5637]

4. Yeah, I noticed that about Boehner a number of times. He's probably thinking

to himself, I'd like to get on with some of this stuff, but I've got a bunch of F'en asshole teabaggers running a freak show in my party.

[EFerrari]

7. Wait, how are spending cuts and tax cuts putting money into the system?

He's proposing taking money OUT of the system.

This is the same Reaganomics that haven't worked for 35 years, isn't it?

[underpants]

22. No I am for putting into the hands of us in the middle and the poort

WE spend money which puts it into the system.

Government spending (see WWII) is a great way to put money into the system too. The "Stimulus" at least kept us afloat.

[No Elephants]

24. As I am sure you know, there are definitely risks to cutting the payroll tax.

[alarimer]

30. That so-called payroll tax cut resulted in about $20 for me.

People who make less money get even less than that. It has been in place nearly a year and hasn't done a bit of good. They just don't want to appear to raise taxes going into an election year. Other than that, the payroll tax cut is just about defunding SS, to make it look like it is part of the deficit because they are making up the difference by putting money in from the general fund.

[EFerrari]

33. The stimulus kept Wall Street afloat; the rest of us not so much.

The payroll tax "holiday" isn't good for the programs that rely on that money. If they are struggling, why is Obama robbing them? That's not good management, it's some kind of political stunt. And it doesn't do a thing for unemployed people.

[underpants]

37. I fully understand all of that

but for right now the fuel needs fire and that is money.

I would disagree that the Stimulus only kept Wall Street afloat. It did create between 1.8 and 3.4 million jobs depending on whose numbers you use.

I agree about Social Security - this is the first time that it has ever added to the debt - but that needs to be reformed mostly by lifting the cap and for small measure means testing it more than it is.

[fasttense]

28. Old ideas, recycled to appease RepubliCONS

Obama's plan will not help the unemployed. The only thing in it to help the jobless is the infrastructure program. But as we have seen with the MLK memorial, even major construction jobs can be outsourced to China.

Without a Buy America (By the way, the Buy America Act is still on the books but Obama just doesn't enforce it, just like the bushes didn't enforce it.) attachment to the infrastructure plan, it will NOT put America to work. But it may help out the Chinese economy.

[realFedUp]

3. Is this the one where a percentage of it is actually spent?

Like before?
Come on Obama. Make a big statement and pass it by executive order.
Do an FDR. Talk big AND actually carry a big stick. This is an old and tired
speech, no matter how you delivered it. Repubs in Congress aren't
going to help you or this country out. They don't give a damn for
anyone but their contributors and the very rich. Republicans don't
work for America. Comprende?

Step outside and shoot a three pointer.
Maybe you'll get our attention and applause then.

[alp227]

15. uhh...spending bills MUST originate in the House of Reps

It's pretty silly how much there's misguided criticism of the administration that roots from a lack of understanding of how the branches of government work.

[reformist2]

5. DOA.

[bbgrunt]

6. one more crushing blow.

[on point]

8. More tax cut supply side BS. It's DEMAND STUPID!!

Instead of fighting the repuke, he buys in even more to their meme! A majority of the 'new' stimulus is yet more tax breaks for business. When is he going to get a clue that this simply DOESN'T WORK!??

His first stimulus was too small, and 50% wasted on tax cuts.

The problem is not that there is not enough money out there (2.5 trillion in Cash and incredibly low interest rates) , the problem is there is no demand for products. A business will not hire someone with a tax incentive if there is no demand for their products. If there is demand, they will hire them even without a tax break.

Housing prices will not recover unless people feel comfortable and secure in their jobs.

Please Obama, ditch the Chicago School of Economics which has brought the country nothing but decline since Reagan and the repukes started pushing this nonsense and now you are echoing their words.

Pathetic!

[ixion]

9. Welcome to the Decade of Suck.

thanks a pantload, Obama. :(

[Hawkowl]

20. Correction

It is the SECOND decade of complete and utter suck. :hi:

[ixion]

23. heh... fair enough.

[No Elephants]

26. Please don't leave out the POTUS who demanded repeal of Glass Steagall get to his desk ASAP,

And took DADT to Congress. NAFTA, too. And "ended welfare as we know it."

[tblue]

32. That's unfair about DADT. Do you know how that came down???

That accusation is way off base! Would you like me to explain?

[snooper2]

31. Looks like a great and reasonable plan to me.. What's your problem with it?

You don't want more teachers hired?

You don't want businesses that are hiring in this economy to get a little tax break for it? (You do know that all businesses aren't run by repukes right?)

[ixion]

35. Well, first off, it's not about me.

Secondly, sure hiring more teachers is okay if they're being hired to actually teach something, other than how to pass a standardized test.

Thirdly, "little"? Oh, please. :eyes:

Fourthly, Free trade agreements and tax cuts don't create jobs. They serve only to put more money in exec/investor pockets, and do next-to-nothing to create a better jobs marketplace.

[JJW]

10. Robbing Social Security

to pay for tax cut to businesses and infrastructure, while billionaires and millionaires get to keep those tax cuts, the petro industry gets to keep the $ 60 billion in subsidies, and the war profiteering industry gets over $ 1.2 trillion a year.

[chill_wind]

13. I still can't believe he is persisting with this.

And hordes of supporters here kept yukking and insisting it was just all make-believe rope-a-dope.

:-(

[tblue]

21. And "reforming" Medicare

Such a nice word, "reform." I di not have much faith in his commitment to Medicare.

[MrTriumph]

11. Nothing to stop more jobs from heading to China from the USA. Sheesh.

x

[lindalou65]

12. Jobs plan

some of you don't seem to like the plan but apparently the NAACP is quite happy about it-----

[matt819]

14. 1500 in savings

Sure, everything helps, but 1500? Give me a break. If I buy a car, that will take care of a few months of the payments. No car. Or it's maybe 8% of the annual tuition at a state school. No college. Oh, yeah. I can now buy some groceries, maybe even organic.

And what does this do for the self-employed. No tax break here. I'm still paying my self-employment taxes.

I'm no economist, but for the $447 billion cost I don't see much that's going to make a difference.

[Sadie5]

17. Ummm, $1500

Will this be cut from our pay check tax each week? Or will we get the deduction at years end when we file our taxes? Was there no mention of seniors?

[CountAllVotes]

25. I'd noted that too

No mention of the elderly nor the disabled ... the silent (or seemingly silent) facet of the American population that no one cares to discuss much less recognize. :(

[Fool Count]

16. That is pure crap which will never work. It is taking money from the Government

which was sure as hell to spend it on something and giving it to private individuals who may or may not spend it. Some of them (the already rich)
may even prefer to move those tax savings offshore. The net result will be negative for the economic and job growth. The only way it could possibly
help is if the government spending cuts which are supposed to pay for it will be backloaded by five years or so. Then the tax cuts may have a stimulating
effect on the economy. The GOP will never go for it though.

[Left Coast2020]

18. He'll Cave.

Boner, Cantor, Bachman, and Cluster Faux will start crying their usual crap. The networks will air it, and the Tea freaks will make their usual stupid arguments, etc. In the end, nothing good will come about. I've seen this movie before.

[Veracious]

19. We the people are the government...

Investments in infrastructure will benefit everyone. Its a smart time to rebuild it. And I guess you'd rather try the Ricky Perry "Let It Burn" system?
AND the plan will be paid for.

[No Elephants]

27. .You really have to hand it to the Campaigner in Chief.

He managed to make proposing a Republican style plan seem as though he was really standing to up to Republicans.

[EFerrari]

34. It's a neat trick. He proposes Republican failed fixes,

the Republicans pretend to object and a portion of DU cheers as if he's promoting a new WPA. :crazy:

[ixion]

36. only if you're a political hack, or you're just not paying attention.

;)

[creon]

29. Good speech

It was a good speech.
It had good ideas that could do some good.

But, the GOP will not cooperate. They hate the speech.
And, the 'left' wing of the Democrats will not like it.