President Obama discusses the steps he is taking to make America competitive in the short and long terms, and why he chose GE CEO Jeff Immelt to head up the new Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
I have read some reports that there was confusion why the president choose Immelt to lead this new board. But my thoughts are this... Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Immelt has been critical of the President in the past and this way, it is nullified.
We don't need someone to bash the Administration all over, we need someone with constructive ideas and innovation to keep the forward momentum going. Immelt may be just the person to do this. He is pushing green technology, green jobs and such at GE, why not use him to push other companies into doing the same thing.
The President touts the new benefits coming from the tax cut compromise for any business large or small, tens of millions of workers and families, and the economy itself.
In his weekly address, President Obama looked forward to how the tax cut package he signed into law in December will benefit millions of Americans in the new year. For one year, any business, large or small, can write off the full cost of most of their capital investments. The payroll tax cut will mean $1,000 more this year for a typical family – 155 million workers will see larger paychecks because of that tax cut. Twelve million families will benefit from a $1,000 child tax credit and an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. And eight million students and families will continue to benefit from a $2,500 tuition tax credit. Independent experts have concluded that the tax cut package should significantly accelerate the pace of the recovery.
This is good news about the jobs this week, however we can't depend on the numbers continuing this way. I think that's why the President isn't shouting louder about this. We all know the numbers fluctuate from week to week and month to month. But this is good news. The trend is still upward and that's the main thing. We are making progress and we have to keep the forward momentum going.
Even though the tax cut package was so hated by those on the left, it is a good thing for the middle class and I am sure the President will keep his word on fighting against the upper class cuts in 2 years. We have to work and make sure he has a Congress behind him when he is re-elected. That's our goal for the next 2 years.
I still have faith and confidence in our President and hope that others will see he is the man for the job and is doing the very best he can. Even if we don't always like the process, he is getting things done.
The President resolves to do all he can to get the economy growing and create jobs, and encourages Republicans to embrace their new responsibility to govern.
Happy New Year to you all. May this year be even better than last, and not as good as next.
In his weekly address, President Obama called the recent comments by the GOP leadership, which put scoring political points over solving the problems facing the country, “troubling,” and asked Democrats and Republicans to work together to move the country forward. Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s elections, leaders on both sides of the aisle owe it to the American people to put aside politics and work together on a number of issues that have traditionally had bipartisan support, like tax breaks for middle-class families and investing in infrastructure.
The President:
That’s why I found the recent comments by the top two Republican in Congress so troubling. The Republican leader of the House actually said that “this is not the time for compromise.” And the Republican leader of the Senate said his main goal after this election is simply to win the next one.
I know that we’re in the final days of a campaign. So it’s not surprising that we’re seeing this heated rhetoric. That’s politics. But when the ballots are cast and the voting is done, we need to put this kind of partisanship aside – win, lose, or draw.
I only hope more people realize what the GOPers are promising. Endless investigations, constant filibusters, and the possibility of a complete shutdown of the Government.
Remind your friends and neighbors, especially if they are thinking of putting the GOPers back in power, what a shutdown would mean. No checks, no help for anything, If you live on disability or Social Security, no money coming in. All services from the VA, USDA, and every other department will stop.
Is this what they want? It's what we could potentially get, and with the idiots who are running, who knows how bad it will be.
