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CLEVELAND, OH -- In a bid to show the American public he's focused on jump-starting the country's economic recovery, President Obama hosted a small business forum here to tout his administration's efforts to help support the nation's main job creators.
President Obama participates in a breakout session during the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business at Cleveland State University in Cleveland today.
The president was joined by several members of his cabinet, who held breakout sessions with 100 to 120 small business leaders to discuss topics ranging from workforce training and export assistance to providing companies with more access to capital.
Obama and officials like SBA Administrator Karen Mills, who also traveled to Ohio for today's event, have called small businesses the "backbone" of the U. S. economy and say that helping them expand and hire is key to speeding America's recovery from the worst recession since the Great Depression.
"The big companies generally get most of attention in our economy, and the success of large companies is critical to the success of medium and small businesses as well," he said during brief remarks before the breakout sessions. "But it's small business like yours that help drive Americas economic growth and create two of every three new jobs. You're the anchors of our Main Streets."
Obama told the group gathered in a college gymnasium here in the economically hard-hit battleground state -- the unemployment rate in Ohio stood at 9.6% -- that he did not come here to talk but to listen, and said he hoped the people in attendance would express their feelings candidly.
"We're here to hear from you directly," he said. "We want your stories, your successes, your failures, what barriers you're seeing out there to expand, what you've learned along the way, what would make it easier for you to grow, what would make it easier for you to help create new jobs?"
Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said she hoped the working session here today -- which she dubbed a "laboratory" -- would provide a national model and help the administration learn how better to help these businesses.
One of the chief concerns expressed in the breakout sessions was trouble getting loans, an issue the White House has sought to address by eliminating capital gains taxes on key investments and encouraging more lending by community banks -- though it was clear that not everyone was aware of those measures. When session participant Philip Davis suggested the administration allow people to invest in small businesses without having to pay capital gains, the president smiled, saying “That is such a good idea that we implemented it last year.”
Officials say the Obama administration has put in place 17 tax cuts that will benefit small companies, including a provision that allows companies to write off 100% of investments in equipment this year. Obama's 2012 budget includes an additional $650 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program that supports early-stage research into clean energy technologies.
But today's event was held against the backdrop of an ongoing battle in Congress over funding for the rest of this year -- not to mention the 2012 fiscal year, which doesn't begin until October.
Over the weekend, House Republicans voted on a continuing resolution that would fund the government through September, but that would include more than $60 billion in cuts. The Democratic-controlled Senate is sure to reject that bill in its current form, and the two sides have until March 4 to reach an agreement and avoid a government shutdown.
Part of the president's "Win the Future" argument is that the country must make "sensible" budget cuts and work to put the country on a stronger long-term fiscal path, while also investing in areas like education, infrastructure, and innovation to boost America's ability to compete globally.
The sessions ended with a live Q&A on www.whitehouse.gov and Facebook, in which the president and Austan Goolsbee, chair of the Council on Economic Advisers took part.
"When the bet concerns America, you've always gone all in," Obama told the small business leaders during his closing remarks before the group. He added that the breakout sessions had brought out some good ideas, including a proposal to provide tax credits for angel investors' who provide early investments that can make or break a company.
Also on the road with the president today were Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Gene Sperling, who replaced Larry Summers as director of the National Economic Council. AOL Co-Founder Steve Case, who heads up a new White House public-private partnership "Startup America," was also on hand. The president has named Case to his White House Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, which is set to meet for the first time on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.
Obama was met on the icy tarmac upon landing here by Republican Gov. John Kasich and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH). The president last traveled to Cleveland in the days before the midterm elections to try to help then-Gov. Ted Strickland, a strong ally during his own campaign for the presidency, hold on to the state's governor's mansion.
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"17 tax cuts that will benefit small companies...."
And one huge Obamacare monstrosity which will ruin small companies, large companies, and the American private sector economy.
Obama has been selling the same snake oil for 2+ years now. No one believes him anymore.
JoAnne - The private sector creates jobs. The only thing the Obama administration can do is make a climate in this country that is favorable for job creation, and he has done that. Now it's up to businesses to start hiring again, however, since all business has cut back and are requiring the people who still have jobs to do more work, it is going to be hard to make business take on more employees. It hurts their bottom line. Why add more employees when you can work the ones you got into the ground. Who's going to quit their job in this job market. Basically what I am saying is business is taking advantage of the economic downturn to take advantage of their employees and increase their bottom line. That is one of the reasons the stock market is doing so well right now. Less employees+same amount of work= more profit
Less employees+same amount of work= more profit
And now they want lower taxes too, promising they'll use the extra revenue to create more jobs. But I've seen and heard this all too familiar song and dance routine before, but both the corporate tax and capital gains tax at their lowest levels in years. if they are not going to create jobs now with record profits, then they're not going to create job after they get their tax cuts either.
and Weeper of the House, where are you?
Better yet, where are the jobs Mr. Boehner? Guess you're too busy doing other stuff!..So be it!
Yo Chilled - $1.65 Trillion in the hole and you want the government to "create" jobs.
You are a funny guy.
But ok, tell us how the government creates jobs.
Speaker Boehner is off enjoying his week long President's Day, no time for such things as the budget or jobs but rest assured, they'll be back next week to attack women's rights.
Spanky, the government creates jobs by putting money into the hands of states to contract out to private business. NASA funds private companies to build the components of their space craft, their satellites but the money for it comes from government. The government doesn't build roads or bridges, it helps fund the private contractors who do. It really isn't hard to understand.
Back at ya' Spanky...
I ask the Weeper where are the jobs?
For the last at least 2 years, he's (and all Repubs) been shouting that phrase from every rafter!
I'll tell you where the jobs are (Weeper knows)...they are all in China, India, Mexico, and everywhere else but here.....so that rumbling you may hear will be all the jobs coming back, but but, wait....without the unions....slave labor, no benefits, unsafe working conditions, just like outsourced.....
So, I repeat, where are the Jobs!
PIM....
Obviously you are unhappy with our Presidents performance.
Look in the mirror and the reflection you see will give you a clue.....the party of GOPTP has said NO to everything.
.................so now you can ask the Weeper of the House! Dare ya', double dare ya!
OK,
Let's see if you get an answer PIM, from the Weeper.....an answer other than 'so be it'!
(am I the only one thinking this is an incredibly silly conversation?)
Yup, PIM, but at least it wasn't nasty.
Awww, but Chilled why are are the jobs in China and India?
Perhaps tax rates, labor costs and regulations? Naww, just crappy republicans trying to screw the little guy.
Awww, but Chilled why are are the jobs in China and India?
Perhaps tax rates, labor costs and regulations? Naww, just crappy republicans trying to screw the little guy.
You can lower taxes to zero, ban all unionized labor, have the American workers work for $1 an hour for 10 hours a day for 7 days a week, and businesses will still rather hire a worker in China who would work for peanuts a day. The cost of labor over there is so cheap, that unless we turn ourselves into a third world country, there is no way for us to compete, regulations or not.
"Spanky, the government creates jobs by putting money into the hands of states to contract out to private business."
That thinking is why we are in this mess. So Jody, where does this Government get this so called money for these states? Love to hear this logic....................
Chilled, Your Obama had over two years to bring jobs and prosperity but what did he bring? Nothing but misery and Obamacare. Now, you are calling on Boehner to bring jobs. Is he the President? Is he the man with the power to bring jobs to America which your Barry ignored all these years. Only talking about his stimulus. You Commies tried your best to socialize the US with your Obamacare. Now, that it has failed you are blaming the Repubs. The money has disappeared Chilled, you don't seem to realize that. America is broke. That is why we have budgets now, accountability and fiscal policies. None of that was under Barry.
Sure Bob, let's let the health-care companies charge what ever they want and deny whoever they want, that will make the private sector thrive, right? That must be some good s#it your smoking, pass it around will ya, I want to live in fantasy land too.
puff-puff-pass, please insult me.............
Did anyone bother to introduce the Cabinet to the President ?
According to an article by John Heileman in New York Magazine, President Obama hasn’t as much as said hello to a half dozen of his Cabinet members in two years ........ yet Obama meets with Chief Union thug Richard Trumka weekly, according to Trumka....
You should evaluate what you hear in WingNut land sometimes before posting. That may help you figure out how riduculous your posts are.
Since President Obama chose those cabinet members, does anyone really think he hasn't met them. Just because someone puts something in print or says it on FOX or MSNBC or anywhere else does not make it true.
What if it's not WingNut land nor Fox nor MSNBC? What if the source is Trumka himself?
Seems that obama tried this last year in Des moines, Iowa. Didn't seem to have much success there either.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/us/politics/30obama.html?_r=1
Did he say anything about the public employee union issues in Ohio, or didn't he have time?
He wont speak up again on a Losing Issue.......... he knows the Unions are losers and the American people dont support them anymore. He now is going for a larger Base. Instead of just the Failed union Policies...
Not the time or place to discuss it. This was a small business forum not a discussion of what Ohio's Governor is attempting to do.
He voted "present" on the issue, as expected.
But you got to give it to Jody - "Not the time or the plase to discuss it?" YOu have got to be joking right?
I don't suppose you own a small business do you Jody? You think debt and the fact that the is basically anarchy in two states might be an issue?
Yeah Jody, Barry is focused on the job problem. No wonder we don't have any jobs for over the last two years.
At least the Pesident is Focused like a lazer on Jobs, that's more than anyone can say for the Republicans "No Jobs" agenda. Republicans are spending 100% their time Robbing Fom the Middle Class & The Poor and given to the Rich. Breaking the backs of the Middle Classs, Elderly Sick, Elderly, Poor women and kids. They are attempting to turn this country into the "Haves and Have Nots"
Trash talking by Americans who simply don't understand what's happening or choose not to understand thinking they will benefit will b equite surprised if the Republicans get their way. They will finally understand that throwing their own interests and that of their families under the bus, was simply a tool used to hurt their families as well in the end.
The theme of the Republicans is "Conqure and Divide and may sincerely hope that the American people are smarter than some appear to be. While Americans are bickering with each other the Republicans are fast throwing All the Power to the Rich!
Results will be "Lower Wager, Little to No Benefits, Poor Working conditions then the cheap labor jobs will move back to American because labor will be cheap here
Yawn,
June, that's true. Conservatives cheering for the demise of unions simply do not understand that all businesses will be cutting their benefits and their wages if the GOP succeeds in busting the unions. Unions established the standard for industry benefits and wages; to be competitive for good workers, nonunion firms provided the same benefits to their employees. Take them away from the unions, and those same nonunion businesses will follow suit. The old saying, cut off their nose to spite their face comes to mind.
Gotta love it. "That is such a good idea that we implemented it last year," said President Obama.
Sadly, that is proof that the GOP noise machine drowned out the President and democrat's successes the past two years and the media's focus too often on trivial nonexistent controversy meant the MSM failed to report specifics about legislation.
Jody---I wish you would go on the talk show circuit and explain the administration's successes in this area---I think they spend so much time working that they don't remember to blow their own horns!
Isn't it interesting how the Media has forgotten the Unemployed and shifted to the Class wars while millions of Americans are unemployed. media pushed Unemployed and Jobs, Jobs, along with the Republicans now that the Republicans are in power those suffering families are all forgotten.
American wake up it could be your family and just might be. Any Americans who thinks they are safe in this environment is not getting the big picture.
If the American people don't start working together regardless of party, race, creed, we will be the but end of this push.
Republicans , Independents and Dems are Union and I can't imagine that all are not concerned about what's happening to their rights.
Back to jobs, where are the Jobs the Republicans promised there was not a microphone that they were not running to
Media has failed the American people you shifted with the Republican party leaving millions who actually count on media to at least speak up sometime
Where's the push for Jobs? For a country that call itself a "Christian" Nation there's nothing Christian about leaving millions of families behind to suffer their own fate because they have been abondon by no fault of their own
And the Republicans who caused this near depression have just simply moved on .......................
Those republicans never admitted that it was their policies, their lock step voting yes on everything President Bush wanted that created the massive debt, the collapse of the economy. The conservatives continue preaching the wonders of Reagan's trickle down, voo doo economics despite all the evidence that proved it didn't work the first time and the second time nearly caused a second Great Depression.
Jody, Too long you have been putting down Repubs. Face it and admit it. Your Party is of a Communist origin. It has nothing but socialist policies. It has failed consistently. Barry has failed even more miserably than Carter. The money is gone. The magic is gone and Barry has no magic left. No one believes him anymore. He is an elite socialist and everyone recognizes this. We will put him out to pasture. The business people recognize that any businesses created now will be controlled by Barry through govt agencies and that businessmen are leery of. Under Barry they will have to share their profits. Under a Republican govt. they keep their profits to invest in their business. That is the significant difference between the two. No one trusts socialists , no one.
What we have is a battle between the haves and will have nothing. This is between the people thet feed off the people that create and repair what was created.
The people that create are the ones that keep this economy going then there are the ones that feed off us and you know who you are. You are the ones that really do nothing to better our scociety. Since there are fewer creators creating you have to take more from the ones that still create.
It's time to expose the feeders for who they are.
Would those be the 'feeders' that are feeders by choice, or the many new feeders that have been put in that position through no fault of their own? You know- the one's that had worked hard to become middle and upper mangers, only to lose thier jobs through acquisitions and mergers (the purpose of which is to make more for the 'already-have-plentys')?
Big difference in these 'feeders', I'd guess. I'd agree with you that the first group need exposing. THe second group? You tell us.
President Obama
President Obama ,you should have said this over and over for the first two years of your presidency
and not the health care reform as people had no jobs but pain that doctors and clinics and hospitals
will not help to take away their real pain.You could help business to expand but fustrated with your many statements on taxes and health care reforms but that was not the urgent issue then.
What is your profit so far?None and a big waste of your two years of presidency and the people lived miserably during that period
and I do not blame you for that but you kept making statements that had created big anxieties for businesses around USA and the whole world.No business can plan when you as democratic president gave signal that created uncertainties and anxieties while the economy
was close to depression.No body would like to get more frustration during the bad time but democrats were helpless when the president
created anxieties.If they are poor then they have time to go to county clinics and wait all day and not to the first class expensive Hospitals.
.Democrats had the
last chance to vote for to import the medicine so the prices of the medicine could have gone down.
You killed the competition and let it on. There has been arguments about safety of these imported medicines so brings the issues of the past about Toyota Motors, Mexican Grapes and vegetables,California spinach was not imported but it has ecol?
I was believer hat wealthies should pay more taxes.Why?
Wealthier work hard and consumes their whole life and live very stressful life but well disciplined.
While poor in USA are not unfortunates,they have to start working on the way to success.
Instead they get lazy from very school age to play games,stay on cell phones,iTune and listen to music all Day long.Add TV and the Movies
and no time for any hing left and not enough sleep.[This was the case for my children as they were infected with these enviourments and we had to go through with lots of pain with them but children fought with us but made it though.]
[Wealthiest do not waste time or their life and they get the blames.]
Some barely making to 12Th grade or lower and drop out.Parents Teachers or even Federal governments do not provide strong
message what option and what short course to get better salary jobs are available if they choose to drop out .
My oldest son did not know that he need SAT test so he stayed home 6 months after 12Th grade.I took the blame as I never been told
either that my son requires a test to get admission into a college.
There are not enough Nurses or Medical Technicians,electricians,plumbers ,welders but many jobs opening so I know for now for 35
long years that US has shortage of qualified R.N. so thousands of R.N. comes from foreign countries.
These students are unfortunates as the lack the good information> Since they all wasting time so no time to cook or eat so it gets worst,
eating junks and drinking anything but water.
And now this normal as it has been going on for one generation so their parents were brought up or been raised with these wrong information
so it is hard to change it as these parents can not help their children in good directions and it is getting worst.
American foundation is broke and it is wrong direction for the best of her children.
So the poors gets more poor and get destroyed as those parents can not help bring success to their children and it is continued. But.....?
But the those wealthier who were once poor but worked hard to success will get richer so it is their faults?Their children will also prosper
as they get good information and good habits.
So the health care and fair tax code are big issues.
We never had health insurance as it was very expensive so we took care of our health by taking care of our health.
It is cheaper to go to a Doctor for a short sickness then buying a health insurance.
Obamaa should have focus on jobs and no on helthcare or increasing or changing tax code when economy
was close to depression.
"The conservatives continue preaching the wonders of Reagan's trickle down, voo doo economics despite all the evidence that proved it didn't work the first time.."
Must stink to be divorced from reality...the seven year period from 1982 to 1989 was the greatest, consistent burst of economic activity ever seen in the U.S. In fact, it was the greatest economic expansion the world has ever seen - in any country, at any time. From November 1982, when President Ronald Reagan's new economic program was beginning to take effect, to November 1989, 18.7 million new jobs were created.
Its The Nobody Piece Prize
Another 2012 campaign event for the Keyan Kid, and winner of the Nobody Peace Prize. More taxepayers' money pissed away on jet fuel for Watermellon One again.
Obama has been selling the same snake oil for 2+ years now. No one believes him anymore.
Kinda what Bush was doing but he did it for 8 years
Hey Commies whatever happened to Obamacare?
Obama holds business forum in Ohio.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahaha. Come Commies . Not Again. Socialists holding business forums? Barry on his endless show of Barnum and Bailey Business show. Heh hee
You know Commies, I think the Repubs will have to investigate Biden. He was in charge of that Stimulus Money. Wonder what he did with it? Did he stimulate business or did he stimulate the high speed train?
Dems. You don't like rich people right? Millionares and billionares and the like right? So why is Barry stumping around with the rich in Ohio? They don't want to see him. He is the harbinger of bad news, unemployment , socialism, share the wealth. When they create business, he will take it over and let the govt run it. Barry aim is to control all businesses from the govt level. Meaning all profits must be distributed like in socialism.
The Speaker and the Repubs are in Congress for the last few weeks or so and the poor Dems are asking where the jobs are. The poor Dems won a landslide victory in the 2008 election , won the Presidency, won the House, won the Senate, won everything else and they are still asking where the jobs are. Well , I could tell the poor Dems where the jobs are. The jobs are with all those who own shovels. Isn't that what Barry told us sometime ago? That the Shovel Ready Jobs are there for the taking? When will the Dems realize that Barry is taking them on a ride? There he goes again, as Reagan would say, off to a business forum. I'd like to tally up how many business meetings and forums and job commissions and panels Barry has attended since he took power. Can someone give a count?