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President Obama urged passage of his top jobs initiatives on Friday, warning Congress not to "muck up" the economic growth reflected in Friday's positive jobs report.
Obama said the drop in the unemployment rate, from 8.5 to 8.3 percent, in January shows “the recovery is speeding up,” and that in order to keep it going, Congress should pass long-term extensions of the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance, programs that are otherwise set to expire at the end of February.
“Do not slow down the recovery we're on. Don't muck it up,” Obama said, addressing Congress while speaking at a firehouse in Arlington, Virginia this morning.
He added that both measures need to be passed “without drama, without delay, without linking it to some ideological side issue.”
That comment seemed intended, at least in part, as a warning against lawmakers' push for add-ons like the Keystone oil pipeline project, which House Republicans tied to the short-term extension of the tax cut in December, requiring the president to either approve the pipeline within 60 days or declare it not in the national interest.
While the Keystone language was included in the final legislation, the White House originally threatened to veto any bill containing it, saying it introduced “ideological issues into what should be a simple debate about cutting taxes for the middle class.”
Obama seemed most forceful Friday when talking about the tax cut extension but he also pushed for passage of his new veterans’ employment program, which he said could be funded by money saved from troop drawdowns in Iraq and eventually Afghanistan.
“Congress should take the money that we're no longer spending on war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building here at home,” he said.
Obama’s new plan would create a New Deal-style “Veterans Jobs Corps” intended to put 20,000 post-9/11 veterans back to work restoring national parks and infrastructure. The program would require Congress to approve $1 billion over five years.
The plan would also add $5 billion to existing programs that spur police officer and firefighter hiring, as well as create new training programs for veterans transitioning out of the armed forces, both of which also need Congressional permission.
During his speech, the president emphasized how qualified veterans are to join the civilian workforce.
“Our veterans are some of the most highly trained, highly educated, highly skilled workers that we've got. These are Americans that every business should be competing to attract.”
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♥ it!
President Obama speaks the language of ordinary American's...
While Willard, trips over his tongue everytime he opens the mouth born with a platinum spoon in it!
Unemployment numbers coming down & the Susan B. Komen foundation caving to womens voices and now this.
Is is any wonder the RWNJ's are in such a 'snit' today? lol
I guess since Fiesty discover the use of the Alt key (ie - ALT 3 = ♥) we will be seeing alot of ♥'s...☺
I wouldn't put it past the Repubicans to "muck" up the recovery since they see it blocking their chance to retake the White House. It hasn't bothered them to sabotage the rest of us for the past three years; why would they change now?
And why not John, things are looking up! Your guys hate it when things go well!
Obama to congress, don't muck up economic growth.
Pot meet kettle
Fantastic idea. I hope he actually follows through with actions.
And what great timing. His budget is due next Friday. He has already said it will be late, but let's just see him actually walk this talk.
So anyone want to bet his budget will cause a net increase in the deficit?
Eassy solution is to have them all go away for a year or so. No new regulations, just get out of the way.
But they can't so it. No way.
[His budget is due next Friday.]
After his liquid lunch, Spanky pukes up his afternoon talking point...you never disappoint!
Mickey,
LMAO! Your comment perked my curiousity so I opened Skanky's comment.
The good 'counselor' should know better by now that to drink & blog! LOLOLOL
PS: He's now back on lock-down but thanks again!
All I know is that it sure is a good thing the GOP took the House in 2010. We were stuck at 9.5% unemployment and the economy wasn't going anywhere. Apparently, blocking Obama's policies was successful and we are starting to see some recovery.
[LMAO! Your comment perked my curiousity so I opened Skanky's comment.]
YVW Feisty... ;) Yeah, but he'll never see my comment...he has me on "ignore"...
Oh, did I tell you junior thinks I'm a girl? Maybe thats why he loves harassing me...such a manly man, that Spanky...
Maybe I'll see you at the "treehouse"...
What is UP with THAT?
Which would explain why he trolls women... lol
see comment below
[What is UP with THAT?]
Well, he claims he got the idea from you, but I can't seem to find the connection. But if he thinks I'm female, it just makes it easier for him. He can't hold his own amongst the men here, so he picks on the women. His wife must be oh so proud of him.
Spanky is rockin' it!
Me???? Huh???
He must of been hitting the bottle then as well...
Just like his BFF - WCA! Although, WCA prefers to hide behind Skanky's skirt and pop off a spit ball every now & then! lol
Yes but we're going to have to fight hard to counter act this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/koch-brothers-100-million-obama_n_1250828.html
Let see, 10 million of us at $10.00 each = $100 million. Let the People speak! Support the President!
[Just like his BFF - WCA!]
He got his ass handed to him again today...he's in over his head.
I like your new fighting spirit Mr. President! The problem is we can count on republicans to put as much sugar as they can into the economic gas tank!
Stimulus 1 and 2 did work, but they weren't big enough to solve the problem. We can thank your party for that. Your guys have cut 600,000 jobs in the public sector. I don't think that helped either. Your guys panned the jobs bill on multiple occasions. Your guys have a goal, to make the president a one termer. To attain that goal they want to kill the middle class in the process. They think the worse things are out there the better their chances are in November. We know we can count on your guys to screw things up. Your guys will not get their way. Stop watching Fixed. It's messing with your head.
Oh, and beachbum,
republicans = regressives
Beach bum - You quoted: you can't rely on Progressives to fix the problems
Actually, you can only rely on them to drag you dimwitted righty's into the next century. In your case, the 19th......
Obama 2012
Beachbum.......you spend too much time at the beach. Instead of watching the passing 'scenery', sit in the shade and read a few books and newspapers you might learn something if you are so called 'interested'.
GM,
Funny thing, someone who goes by the name 'beach bum' is bitching about food stamps... lol
Meanwhile...back in Maine...the atmosphere in the state capital is positively toxic. Democrats and Republicans are at each other's throats - and it was NEVER like this until we got a Teapublican governor. The partisanship in our state government has gotten out of control.
President Obama urges Congress to pass legislation to extend a payroll tax cut...and our Gov. LePlague encourages Republican legislators to pursue witch hunts on Democrats.
Hey beachbum, go ahead and tell them how the guvmint had better keep their hands off your Medicare!
Amy---can't recall if I've asked this before---is it possible in Maine to recall the governor?
Thanks for asking, Steeler Fan. Unfortunately we don't have a procedure for repealing a governor, however, I believe the Republicans will lose their majority in 2012; yes, that's right, we have a Teapublican governor and a legislature with a comfortable Republican majority, and all they do is harass Democrats! They don't need Democratic votes to pass anything, but the governor harangues the minority anyway! What's amazing is, Maine used to be known for it's civility and bipartisan government. No more.
beachbum12,if all you do sit on the beach all day and watch the honeys walk by, your thinking with the wrong head,and ir shows.
We all know what the President meant...and for Congress (GOP) replace the "M" in muck to an "F"....
No, no, no... don't you get it Mr President? These guys do just the oppoite of what is needed. If you ask them not to mess it up, they will for sure.
You go, President Obama! Keep the pressure on them. The GOPTPers thought they could walk all over this man. What they failed to realize is that he is a patient man, he has a long fuse but after all the times he reached out to republicans, tried to get them to compromise, tried to get them to help the country recover from the Great Recession, they said NO NO NO. You GOP yahoos brought the Government to the brink of shut down too many times to count but you reached the end of President Obama's long fuse with the debt ceiling debacle, he's done playing your games.
President Obama saved this country and our economy DESPITE the republicans! Woot! Woot! Hollah!
Woo hoo is right, Pat. Listening to the GOPer naysayers today, you know they've got a big burr under their tail--President Obama succeeded DESPITE their efforts to sabotage his presidency and the economy.
They want to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. It's called class warfare. The other stratergy that is employed by them is to starts wars abroad and give no bid contracts to their friends. Channey is a perfect example of this practice. The republicians dug the hole so deep during the Bush era, we are still growing out of it. Thanks to President Obama...
feisty it is Friday time to take the slippers off and enjoy the weekend. in other words, get a life.
If you ever needed more proof that the Republican party has become a cult of racists try this. Ask your Republican friends "If President Obama did everything right, got full employment and turned the economy around, fixed our educational system, came up with a way to fund Medicare and Social Security for the future, and was a great president, would you vote for him in November? I rest my case.
Ah, the Messiah speaks, and so he is telling us to to throw in the Trash this week's CBO Report saying 9.2% Unemployment will return this Summer.
Right. Sure. I don't think so.
Ah, the Messiah speaks, and so he is telling us to to throw in the Trash this week's CBO Report saying 9.2% Unemployment will return this Summer.
Right. Sure. I don't think so.
jb1111,
Got a stuttering problem ?
Drinking the kool-aid, his followers walk into oblivion behind their messiah, marveling at his false prophesies.
Very well said Mr. President! The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) have made it their main mission to destroy an American President at all costs. The President is having economic success, and this is in turn is helping our nation move forward. The GOP/RNC "Hoodlum's On The Hill" have Two goals. Obstruct the President on all policy levels, and in all areas. Destruct of all forms of poltical support for the President, and especially on the economy. "Mickey Mouse Mitch McConnell" has NO intention wanting an American President to succeed with the economy. "Goofy Grover" who has mixed his tax pledge with the politics in Washington "Economically Hostage." It is NO shock at all to hear "Nutty Newt" not say one word about the improving US Economy. It is NO shock to hear "Romulian Romney" say anything positive about our improving economy. "Trampy Trump" the "King" of the "Bonehead Birthers" has backed the "Romulian." Then there is "Sanitarium Santorum" who has NO idea of what the Civil Rights Act Of 1964 is, and has trouble even spelling "Tolerence!" These are the clear facts America.
Don't muck up the economic growth?
Don't muck up the "real" unemployment rate.
The real unemployment rate is the U6 rating, not the U3.