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AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
President Barack Obama delivers a speech to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Watching are Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner.
Published Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 | 4:07 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 | 5 p.m.
President Barack Obama speaks to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 as Vice President Joe Biden watches.
Sun Coverage
WASHINGTON -- Confronting an economy in peril, President Barack Obama unveiled a larger-than-expected $450 billion plan Thursday night to boost jobs and put cash in the pockets of dispirited Americans, urging Republican skeptics to embrace an approach heavy on the tax cuts they traditionally love. With millions of voters watching and skeptical of Washington, Obama repeatedly challenged Congress to act swiftly.
The newest and boldest element of Obama's plan would slash the Social Security payroll tax both for tens of millions of workers and for employers, too. For individuals, that tax has been shaved from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent for this year but is to go back up again without action by Congress. Obama wants to deepen the cut to 3.1 percent for workers.
"This plan is the right thing to do right now," Obama said after a divided body rose in warm unison to greet him. "You should pass it. And I intend to take that message to every corner of this country."
In his televised address to Congress, Obama sought to provide a jolt for the economy, still staggering on his watch, and for his own standing at one of the lowest marks of his presidency. He put forth a jobs plan that he hopes can get bipartisan support and spur hiring in a nation where 14 million people remain out of work and the jobless rate is stuck at 9.1 percent. Public confidence in his stewardship of the economy is eroding.
Obama did not venture an estimate as to how many jobs his plan would create. He promised repeatedly that his plan would be paid for, but never said how, pledging to release those details soon.
The president also would apply the Social Security payroll tax cut to employers, halving their taxes to 3.1 percent on their first $5 million in payroll. Businesses that hire new workers or give raises to those they already employ would get an even bigger benefit: On payroll increases up to $50 million they would pay no Social Security tax.
Obama also proposed spending to fix schools and roads, hire local teachers and police and to extend unemployment benefits. He proposed a tax credit for businesses that hire people out of work for six months or longer, plus other tax relief aimed at winning bipartisan support in a time of divided government.
Under soaring expectations for results, Obama sought to put himself on the side of voters who he said could not care less about the political consequences of his speech.
"The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy," Obama said.
His aim Thursday night was to put pressure on Congress to act - and to share the responsibility for fixing the economic mess that is sure to figure in next year's elections. For every time he told lawmakers to "pass the bill" - and he said over and over - Democrats cheered while Republicans sat in silence.
Tax cuts amounted to the broadest part of Obama's proposal - in essence, a challenge by the Democratic president to congressional Republicans to get behind him on one of their own cherished economic principles or risk the wrath of voters for inaction. The tax cuts alone would amount to roughly $250 billion.
The president said deepening the payroll tax cut would save an average family making $50,000 a year about $1,500 compared to what they would if Congress did not extend the current tax cut.
"I know some of you have sworn oaths to never raise any taxes on anyone for as long as you live," Obama said, a reference to the conservative tea party influence on many House Republicans. "Now is not the time to carve out an exception and raise-middle class taxes, which is why you should pass this bill right away."
Politics shadowed every element of Obama's speech. He implored people watching on TV to lobby lawmakers to act. He did the same thing before his speech in an email to campaign supporters, bringing howls of hypocrisy Republicans who wondered why Obama was telling them to put party above country.
The American public is weary of talk and wary of promises that help is on the way.
In one striking sign of discontent, nearly 80 percent of people think the country is headed in the wrong direction. That's about the same level of pessimism as when Obama took office. It reflects both persistently high unemployment and disgust with Washington infighting.
No incumbent president in recent history has won re-election with the unemployment rate anywhere near the current 9.1 percent.
Obama's jobs plan put a special emphasis on the long-term unemployed - those who have been out of work for six months or more. He repeated his calls for a one-year extension of unemployment insurance in order to prevent up to 6 million people from losing their benefits, and he proposed a $4,000 tax credit for businesses that hire workers who have been out of work for more than six months.
A key part of Obama's approach was to appeal to the lawmakers in front of him to pass a deal, and to position them for blame for inaction should the jobs plan fall short.
"The next election is 14 months away," he said. "And the people who sent us here - the people who hired us to work for them - they don't have the luxury of waiting 14 months. ... They need help, and they need it now."
Obama is an idiot; he and his minions have not a clue how to fix anything. This dummy want to throw another 450 billion down the toilet bowl. I am glad I'm not a codependent on his system knowing that what he said doesn't provide anything to stimulate meaningful jobs.
I think the idea of cutting SS tax is crazy, this is money needed to fund the system and is peoples' retirement ( though they should not rely on it but many do) he is messing with. If someone is already working cutting does nothing for new employment, it is the people not working that need help. Plain stupid. This guy can't get it right he is clueless.
yea, that extra $9 a week is really going to stimulate the economy! Try working on an energy plan ie gas, oil to lower gas 50 cent a gallon it will have a much bigger effect and no cost.
President Obama took his plan straight to the people, forcing Party of NO! cockroaches to crawl back into their do-nothing woodwork.
Polls are the reason. GOP obstructionist have seen the numbers and know their majority in the House is very much in jeopardy.
The fact that so many Republicans had the audacity through the media to blast the plan and speech during and before it was even finished, once again reminds me they have no desire to cooperate and/or solve problems.
They are going to wait this thing out till the next election and hope they prevail, while millions (thousands in our own state) suffer.
The only thing I can continue to do, is vote against Republican candidates like Heller and Amodei. Both I know to be fine men and skilled politicians, but both have sold their sole to this ultra right-wing philosophy and both have lost my support.
IS ONE POLITICAL PARTY STALEMATING THE OTHER THE BEST HOPE WE HAVE?
Consider this mock analogy. My spouse tells me that three new credit card accounts have been authorized for us. I respond, "How are we going to pay for them? We can barely make minimum payments on the maxed out credit cards we have now." My spouse says, "Don't worry, I'll take the new credit cards that have much higher credit limits, and easily make the minimum payment on the old credit cards. We'll then have extra money available to us to pay all our other bills. We just keep this same process going on, and financially, we'll be okay." I issue a counter proposal. "We need to reduce our debt. Therefore, we stop paying taxes. We let our house go into foreclosure. We'll call the bank and tell them to come take our car, on a voluntary repossession. We will then cancel our car insurance, as well canceling the kids medical insurance. You see, who cares about our credit rating, our debt will nearly be eliminated, and we'll have cash on hand."
Which spouse is right? Would you possibly say, neither spouse is?
Well, there you have it. A Democratic wife, and a Republican husband. In reality, the proposal of both would scare the daylights out of me. Hmm, yes they do. Kind of lends credence to the view that, quick fixes should be avoided and the safest route to take is being patient and letting the economy first heal itself.
Plan looks like just another failure. Same as the man in charge...
Barack the 'magic negro' didn't come up with any magic during his campaign speech that he gave the other night.
If you go to the sun's buisness section there is an article about the tax increases put into this plan to offset the spending. Won't find anything in this article about it and you will have to dig for it but its there.
I'm not even against some of the taxes I just don't like that they are hidden in a JOBS bill. That way he can say the evil republicans are against jobs not taxes. If he were a true leader he would be able to call it what it is. Politics at its finest :)