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Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Barack Obama
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- Obama jobs bill stalls in the Senate (10-12-2011)
- Jobs Act to lift Nevada (9-29-2011)
- Obama’s jobs proposal might help Las Vegas homeowners (9-19-2011)
The Obama administration brought its push for the seemingly dead $447 billion American Jobs Act to Henderson on Friday, providing the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community with information to help prevent home foreclosures and jump-start small businesses.
The daylong gathering hosted by The White House Initiative on Asian-American and Pacific Islanders drew more than 200 people at a union hall.
It was The White House Initiative’s second public meeting in less than a month targeting ethnic voters in Southern Nevada, a state where the unemployment rate was 13.4 percent in August, the highest in the country. With its six electoral votes, Nevada could again be a key swing state in the presidential election.
Assistant to the President Christopher Lu said that despite the administration’s loss earlier this week on a procedural vote to bring the Jobs Act to the Senate floor, President Barack Obama will continue to seek public support for the measure. The administration says it would prevent layoffs of 280,000 teachers nationwide and provide an estimated $5 billion to protect the jobs of police and firefighters in financially strapped communities. The measure includes a mix of temporary tax cuts, hiring incentives for small businesses, extended unemployment benefits and money for public works projects.
“People in Nevada know we don’t have 13 months to solve the nation’s problems. We have to do it right now,” Lu said between sessions of the gathering. “With some minor tweaking, we could get every Democratic Senator.”
Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Jon Tester of Montana helped defeat the measure during a Tuesday vote that would have ended debate on the proposal and brought it to the floor for a full Senate vote. Congressional observers say it is unlikely the measure in its current form would pass the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Despite the legislative hurdles, Lu, a top legislative aide to then-Sen. Obama, said “in another, less-partisan era” the measure would have passed both houses of Congress.
“These are ideas that should have bipartisan appeal and in any other partisan climate would have passed,” he said.
Republican Congressional leaders oppose the measure, saying it will expand the nation’s record debt and federal deficit. Despite the legislative divide, Lu indicated that there is the potential for a compromise.
“We may not get the entire American Jobs Act done, but we’re going to get as much of it done as we can,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Elizabeth Echols, regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, told the audience that a series of initiatives are needed to improve the fortunes of working people. She noted that the Jobs Act with extended unemployment benefits would give some relief to thousands of Nevadans who have seen their unemployment benefits expire after 99 weeks. The maximum individual payment is $400 a week.
Despite the claims of Republicans who argue that the government sector is a drag on the economy or does not create jobs, Echols said the federal government is the biggest consumer in the world.
Funding for teachers and police are the responsibility of local government. Why should the tax payers of other states pay for for this? This jobs bill is about campaign contributions for the president, not about jobs. President Obama and his people know that if they take care of unions they will get millions of dollars and thousands of foot soldiers for his reelection. President Obama and his ideas are three years late and a dime short, this is more nonscence from an out of touch adminstation!
WTF, this administration wants to give more money to overpaid firefighters????
Typical garbage from the Panderer in Chief.
Republicans tried to get the Obama bill before the Senate for an up-and-down vote.
Reid had to use the nuke option to stop that because there are not enough Democrats that like it.
He is still trying "to tweak" it so that enough Democrats would vote for it. So far.....too many of them still don't like it.
Of course, you will not get these facts if you just rely on the Sun "news". They like to keep people in the dark.
How are these wonderful Democrats AND Republicans working out for all of you fine folks? They have been in charge for decades. Do you think that if you keep voting for them that matters will change for the better? Really?
The buck stops at the presidents desk. If he can't get anything done, the American people are not going to "buy" his blame congress attitude when it comes time to vote in Nov. 2012. Some might get voted out, but ultimately President Obama will be shown the door. I know of no President who has blamed his failings or his re-election bid on the Senate and the House. He doesn't get it. If something can't get passed, do whatever you can to negotiate to get it done. It seems the replicans are not going to bend on ANY new tax initiatives to fund your plan. Better make a different plan then. That's the reality. Personally I don't think he has a chance in hell of getting reelected.
Its not a Jobs bill its a tax bill. Or if you prefer stimulus 2. No regular people will ever see any of this money its just for union workers and fed. employees. The gov. can't buy its way out of this hole.
The gov has a spending problem. Not a revenue problem. Why give these people even one more cent. The only way to fix the problem is a balanced budget amendment.
The first stimulus as we were told was supposed to invigorate the economy, hiring, etc. Unemployment still remains high. I am unwilling to continues throwing 400 billion dollar darts at a board hoping it hits something. In the meantime the deficit and debt continue to explode and there is zero guarantee this helps anything.
These jobs are just tax funded temporary jobs that are not driven by market forces. I can't support more debt.
I voted for Obama but he's turned into a huge disappointment as all he seems to do is blame congress at every turn. You are the leader...lead and get something done that will pass. Stop playing the blame game. If the Senate will not pass this then find some middle ground and keep going back and forth. All he's done is lay out a plan and say "approve it". Does he think Congress will just blindly say yes?
Unfortunately this is a bad bill, to be financed in part by cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Nevada needs real jobs, not make-work jobs of a temporary nature. In this case, no bill is better than a bad one. A true financial recovery that is sustainable, will depend on the private sector, not more government spending.
JOBS are number one and insane republicans don't
care.
GREEDY, HEARTLESS REPUBLICANS ARE 100% THE FAULT,
PERIOD.
Republicans in the House and republicans in the
Senate are the problem.
DON'T LISTEN TO THESE LYING REPUBLICAN
DIRT-BAGS.
Republican greed created this bad economy,
make no mistake about it.
REPUBLICANS CAN'T STOP LYING.
It's built into their twisted minds.
Never, ever trust these republican liars.
YES, heartless republicans made this mess and
are trying to make it WORSE.
AMERICANS NEED GOOD PAYING JOBS.
Next year we need to vote as many republicans out
of the House and Senate as possible.
These rich, heartless republicans don't deserve
that job.
NEXT YEAR, FIRE ALL GREEDY REPUBLICANS.
This bill is horrible and I am pleased that the Republicans and some Democrats dumped it. Next we will dump Obama and his anti business regulations.
I can think of any number of ways to spend less and achieve more. But then my solutions would be results oriented not agenda driven.
Sure just give more tax cuts and free cash to Corporate America that policy worked so well in the bush years for the rest of America we only had deal with the second worst recession in our nations history. And for you R.M.s I only have to watch one hour of hannity to know your opinion.
Hey Teamster....how you like all trade bills passing?