Obama's message to congress was clear as he addressed them over his new American Jobs Act
"You should pass this bill."
Much of the news cycle over the last week has centered on President Obama’s pending jobs speech. Last night, President Obama put the speculation to rest when he spoke before a joint session of Congress.
In his speech, the President outlined his proposal for the American Jobs Act. The plan includes a cut to payroll taxes, create jobs to repair the nation’s infrastructure, tax credits to companies that hire veterans or the long term unemployed, and Medicare reform. In order to pay for this plan, President Obama’s plan includes reform of the tax code to eliminate corporate tax loopholes. The President also promised that the Federal government would pay contracts quicker, reform the patent process, and review government regulations on business. (The full text of the President’s speech can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/08/address-president-joint-session-congress)
Many of the proposals mentioned by the President were predicted to be in the speech. The surprise was they manner in which the speech was delivered. President Obama did not ask Congress to work with him. Instead, he told them what to do. Seven times during the speech, he told Congress that they “should pass” his bill. He used similar language through out the speech. He compared the United States to South Korea, Europe and China, telling Congress that we should not allow them to surpass the U.S. He invoked the name of Abraham Lincoln; founder of the Republican Party, as proof that government involvement in business is appropriate.
He repeated that both Democrats and Republicans had supported various parts of his proposal. He directly mentioned the Georgia plan that was supported by that state’s Republicans. He pointed out that fifty House Republicans had previously supported a payroll tax reduction. He pointed out that his plan for a to fund infrastructure projects was based on a plan created by Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Kerry.
Reaction from Republicans has varied. Many of the Republican Presidential candidates denounced the speech. Mitt Romney said “Mr. President, you are 960 days late.” Rick Perry challenged the President to “…offer more than just another speech.” But Speaker of the House John Boehner sounded more conciliatory saying that the Presidents plan “…merit[s] consideration.”
Now America waits to see if Democrats and Republicans will work together to pass the President’s American Jobs Act.
"You should pass this bill."
Much of the news cycle over the last week has centered on President Obama’s pending jobs speech. Last night, President Obama put the speculation to rest when he spoke before a joint session of Congress.
Many of the proposals mentioned by the President were predicted to be in the speech. The surprise was they manner in which the speech was delivered. President Obama did not ask Congress to work with him. Instead, he told them what to do. Seven times during the speech, he told Congress that they “should pass” his bill. He used similar language through out the speech. He compared the United States to South Korea, Europe and China, telling Congress that we should not allow them to surpass the U.S. He invoked the name of Abraham Lincoln; founder of the Republican Party, as proof that government involvement in business is appropriate.
He repeated that both Democrats and Republicans had supported various parts of his proposal. He directly mentioned the Georgia plan that was supported by that state’s Republicans. He pointed out that fifty House Republicans had previously supported a payroll tax reduction. He pointed out that his plan for a to fund infrastructure projects was based on a plan created by Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Kerry.
Reaction from Republicans has varied. Many of the Republican Presidential candidates denounced the speech. Mitt Romney said “Mr. President, you are 960 days late.” Rick Perry challenged the President to “…offer more than just another speech.” But Speaker of the House John Boehner sounded more conciliatory saying that the Presidents plan “…merit[s] consideration.”
Now America waits to see if Democrats and Republicans will work together to pass the President’s American Jobs Act.
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