Contours of Obama jobs package coming into focus

[highplainsdem]

Source: Reuters

-snip-

The president is widely expected to repeat his calls for an extension of a payroll tax cut, push for patent reform and bilateral free trade deals, and suggest an infrastructure bank to upgrade the country's roads, airports and other facilities.

Retrofitting schools with energy efficient technology would allow the government to directly hire for labor-intensive work and also give a boost to the clean energy sector that Obama has said could be an important U.S. economic motor.

Other measures being considered, according to economists who have advised the White House, include tax credits for firms hiring more workers, funds for local governments to hire teachers, and retraining help for the long-term unemployed. Steps to boost the ailing housing market are also under review.

-snip-

Alice Rivlin, a former Clinton economic official and Federal Reserve vice chairwoman, said new policies would have to be designed in a way that ensures money is spent quickly and people are hired directly for them to be effective.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/25/us-usa-obama-jobs-idUSTRE77O1EW20110825

[villager]

1. And no pre-compromising. He has to fucking dare the Repubbies to vote against it

...in an election year.

Then run on it, either way.

[totodeinhere]

62. It's a weak plan that includes more job killing so-called free trade.

And I also oppose the extension of the payroll tax because in the long run it will harm Social Security. Frankly, I hope that both Democrats and Republicans vote against it. It's not a progressive plan.

[Arctic Dave]

2. We'll see.

No high hopes from him anymore.

[tawadi]

3. " retraining help for the long-term unemployed

Retrain them for what, exactly? Where are there jobs?

[bhikkhu]

5. There are always shortages for some skilled positions

...engineers of various types, healthcare positions of various types. I'm an automotive mechanic myself, and have always been able to find steady decent paying work. I haven't had a trainee of any sort for many years, though, and any service manager would tell you how hard it is to find anyone even interested.

[trud]

38. dream on

The computer software engineering jobs are outsourced to India or taken by the enormous number of H1-B imports here who work for less, regardless of the fable that they are supposed to be paid the same as US workers. Thanks free trade agreements and total inaction from Congress and the President. Same thing with a lot of civil engineering jobs going to Chinese firms.

[Chan790]

43. Most direct-service skilled-trades are not outsourcable.

Sure, they can bring in cheap foreign labor to work as mechanics or health-aides but at-least that money stays in the local economy.

[jeff47]

48. Unemployment in "computer software engineering" is about 2%

Much better than the >9% overall.

Yes, outsourcing and H1-Bs aren't good for the industry, but for the time being there's jobs.

[trud]

54. jobs in software engineering?

Tell that to my friends in Silicon Valley over 50, intelligent, up to date, great experience, who can't get a job interview to save their lives.

[bhikkhu]

56. I think inability to relocate is a part of the problem

due to the lack of a housing market. I have the same issue, though its not bad because I am working. If I lost my job, I live in a very small market and would very possibly have to move to find similar work again...which would be problematic, as we own a house, and houses aren't selling here at all.

I imagine the housing market makes flexibility difficult for many people.

[jeff47]

59. If they're willing to relocate within the US, they'll be employed tomorrow.

It's the staying in Silicon Valley part that makes it hard.

I'm not looking at the moment, yet I get about an email per week asking if I am.

[fujiyama]

55. Yeah, the big issue I see in the industry is the use of temp/contract work

but it still pays fairly well. There isn't much stability in contracting though.

I did get laid off about a month ago (contract work), but managed to find a job within a month, without any significant searching on my own part. There's plenty of work out there as an engineer. It does help to be flexible in terms of location (and pay as well). Easy for me as I'm relatively young and single, but it would certainly be frustrating if I had a house and a significant other.

True, rates in some areas (IT admin) aren't what they were ten years ago, and that's due to several factors, including overspending by companies in the '90s on IT. But some areas are doing well. Demand for application development especially in the mobile realm is pretty hot and from what I can tell, if you have skills in C++/Java and can transfer those to that arena, you'll certainly be in demand.

The real question is what do those without formal credentials and skills do? I still suggest training for the skilled trades, if you don't have the time, money, or inclination putting in four + years for an engineering/computer science degree. There's a lot of demand for electricians and related careers as well. But once again the issue is getting hands on work experience outside of the classroom. It's often tough to find a paid or even unpaid internship/apprenticeship unless you know someone. We should be pushing these kind of work/study programs across the country. It allows people to train, obtain useful skills and knowledge, and get paid. But this requires spending and no one is willing to make the investment.

[jeff47]

60. For work in the trades, call the local union.

They may have some intermittent work.

However, if you go into trades, you're going into the worst of the current unemployment. Last numbers I saw for trades was about 14% unemployment.

[fujiyama]

70. Ouch didn't realize it was so high among skilled trades people

I had the great opportunity to work with several highly skilled workers without formal credentials at my last job. I knew one guy that lost his job and he was having a tough time finding work, largely due to not having a degree. With so many people applying to the positions advertised, hiring managers use a degree as a filter to simply make an initial cut.

I still think hands on skills are vital to obtain and are invaluable for a society to survive. Classroom knowledge and training are never enough. But still aside for the worst months in the recession during '09, my degree has fortunately made it possible for me to find work. But I am aware of my own weaknesses and try to expand on my skill sets constantly as well (again tougher for someone to do that has a family - not much time to spend to keep up on reading about current trends in technology and what not).

[Angry Dragon]

4. Two problems

the 2% payroll tax cut is a lousy idea, it was bad the first time, it is bad now
the three trade deals are even worse unless there are guarantees to protect jobs

[JDPriestly]

16. I'm with you.

[No Elephants]

20. +1 Infrastructure bank is highly suspect as well, IMO.

[Dragonfli]

27. I don't uderstand what he means by that, what about it is suspect? I think I should start

trying to understand what it is and what types of things could go wrong, why a special bank idea when infrastructure is a government funded thing for example?

[Chan790]

44. It's a pool of money...

set aside for low-interest-rate loans to states, municipalities and select federal agencies for funding infrastructure projects that are hammer-ready and not already budgeted to be completed or were cut to balance budgets. A shitty half-measure WPA with strings attached. The biggest problem with it though is that they simply aren't talking about enough money to make a difference and when it fails to make a difference, it will be once again pointed to as proof that direct-stimulus for infrastructure (like WPA) doesn't work. Note the elephant in the room: This is not direct stimulus.

[Honeycombe8]

65. Isn't that what was done in the first stimulus? And the states didn't use the $ that way? nt

[Lasher]

6. Bilateral free trade deals.

I thought it was a jobs package for the USA.

[hay rick]

9. bilateral free trade...

definition: they get more manufacturing jobs, we get more Walmart greeter jobs.

Since we lose the manufacturing jobs it's not really a job creation plan- it's plan that turns old jobs into different (lower-paying) jobs.

Another big thank you to the Obama administration from the ever-growing American under class.

[Lasher]

10. I'm not sure even the Walmart jobs will be there in the future.

As the rest of the middle class joins the underclass, there will be nobody left to buy even the cheap Walmart crap. The moneyed elite (the top 10% or so) will prosper, but their patronage has never supported a lot of Walmart jobs.

[OKDem08]

7. yes we can

;-)

[HDPaulG]

11. No he can't

[HDPaulG]

8. Too little too late our weak conceder-in-chief...and have the thugs take SS and Medicare &Medicaid

off the table. This plan could have been rolled out a long time ago...And call the Senate for a straight up and down vote on our economic condition. Obama gets hit in the face by his obstructionist Republicans, puts his guard down, gets hit again and again... and again, and again. Wish we had Hillary who knows how to deal with spiteful Republicans.

[emilyg]

12. Speaking of Hillary

Forbes - #2 most powerful woman.

[HDPaulG]

13. Hillary would be #1...

If she had been elected the 44th President of the greatest nation.

[emilyg]

15. Yes. Yes. Yes!!!!!

[trud]

39. Hillary

I want never to hear her name again. Ms war monger. I wonder how much of the wimp in chief's caving has come from her influence.

[trud]

67. HDPaulG

This is no longer the greatest nation. This is the decline and fall of the US empire.

Germany is more financially sound, any of the Scandinavian countries have far more humane systems.

[McCamy Taylor]

14. Nope, it's right in time to burst the GOP's "Jobs and Bread" bubble.

[gateley]

18. So does Biden - I wish Obama would turn him lose. nt

[BOHICA12]

42. You mean the guy who did the Budget deal?

NOT! Biden is laughed at by the Repubs -

[AndyTiedye]

19. They Woulda Done the Same to Hillary

and the media hated her even more than O, so no "bully pulpit" for her either.

[quakerboy]

22. Bully pulpit is there for the president who wants to use it.

When so minded, the president has little trouble finding prime time coverage. Whichever party and whichever year and whichever crisis, the president has the pulpit. Whether any individual president will chose to use it or is able to use it effectively is a different issue. But they have it.

[trud]

68. quakerboy is right

A President with a backbone has a bully pulpit.

[iamthebandfanman]

52. i wish i could live in your pretend world

where hillary and obama are different.

[eridani]

17. I know that the Repukes would not allow a massive public works investment

--but why shouldn't Obama call for one anyway?

[Dragonfli]

24. That is the only approach proven to work in the real world (it worked for the last depression)

Becaused history proves it works, he should fight tooth and nail for a new WPA just to get the discussion started if nothing else, it works and it resonates for all but the upper class.
Many Dems could get elected on on getting the job done even if the Republicans won't lift a finger to save the country.

Another good reason is it is just the right thing to do if you care about the country and reigniting the middle class. There is no good reason not to at least try.
My opinion, even if it fails now enough Dems would get elected to get to it in 2013 if it became a major Democratic push.

Republican ideas will not help the country or the party, he needs to start using tried and true Democratic Ideas.

[totodeinhere]

63. Because we have the makings of another "compromise." Obama will compromise by

eliminating the public works investment and the GOP will compromise by allowing the free trade provision to go forward, which is what they want anyway.

[No Elephants]

21. All ideas the DLC has been pushing. Check the website.

[Dragonfli]

23. Well a little of it makes sense, I really like the retrofitting schools Idea, but why

Destroy even more jobs with another round of "free"" trade deals?
I don't understand why he would want to alienate so many people with a plan like that, I am really trying to get behind this as jobs are important, but free trade is a job killer for the US, even Obama admitted that on the campain trail, most working class people know this and will be scratching their heads.

Some of the stuff like "patent reform" sounds dubios to me as well, I know very little about that tho.

I was hoping he would do a 180 from right wing ideas but lots of it is very dissapointing and free trade in particular is suicide for working people like me, I am not sure we can survive another round of sending what few jobs are left overseas. I just don't get why he thinks he can even dress that pig up.

[Bluebear]

25. Bilateral free trade deals. Yeah that's the ticket mr President

[yurbud]

30. that will creat jobs somewhere--just not here

[Bluebear]

32. You said it.

[Lunabelle]

26. This may be his proposed package.

But I won't hold my breath waiting for the final deal. I've not been happy with many of Obama's final deals.

[Dragonfli]

28. You are right, this would be the pre-compromise starting point correct?

I am getting more nervous by the second.

[totodeinhere]

64. Exactly. The final deal might eliminate the progressive parts of the proposal such as infrastructure

spending while keeping regressive provisions such as free trade. That's usually how it works. And in the meantime the average Joe and Jane will continue to get screwed.

[on point]

29. Weak underwhelming conventional nonsense. Not up to the task

[seabeckind]

31. Looks more like a gop plan

One designed of, by, and for corporate America.

How about a plan that has corporate America working FOR America?

More carrots for the fat guys and no stick.

[No Elephants]

35. DLC, not GOP. There's a huge difference between the two.

As soon as I figure out exactly what the difference is, I'll edit this post and add it here.

Don't hold your breath, though.

[Chan790]

45. "As soon as I figure out exactly what the difference is..."

:rofl:

It's the same as the one between The Judean People's Front and The People's Front of Judea.

(Credit to Life of Brian, the most underrated Monty Python film.)

[mazzarro]

33. Another tepid effort from Third Way/New Democrats/DLC policies

This seems like a rehash of the various ideas of the administration that the rethugs has been rejecting for quite a while now! And many of the administration insiders have been claiming that the new job proposal will be different and much more substantial. If this is all they have, I very much doubt it will go anywhere or do much to move the rethugs. This will end up being another disappointing effort again!

[Itchinjim]

34. Time for the preemptive crapping on of all things Obama.

Welcome to the new normal of DU.

[No Elephants]

36. Anything to add about his plan? Anything at all?

[Itchinjim]

47. I'll wait until the plan is fully released before I light my hair on fire.

I suggest DU do the same.

[marasinghe]

69. how's that working out for you, so far? n/t

[trud]

37. extending the SS tax cut is stupid

Why doesn't he just shoot SS in the head, it would be faster. Hand in glove with the Repigs.

If he wants to cut taxes, he could lower the income tax rate and leave SS alone.

[jerseyjack]

40. NOTE: Still pushing for free trade deals.

[BOHICA12]

41. Alice .... we've established that we can spend money quickly ...

...what we've not been able to do is to ensure people are hired. Did the President find a new formula or is this another rat hole adventure?

[No Elephants]

46. As Bubba might reply, it depends on what your definition of "new" is.

[jimlup]

49. It's not strong enough and the Reptilians won't agree with it anyway so we should advocate

for much more. I'm growing weary of Obama's timidity.

[_ed_]

50. This sounds like a Republican Plan

Sure glad we elected a Democrat in the White House...

Free trade? Patent reform? I just can't take this shit anymore.

[russspeakeasy]

51. O.K. Here's what we do...Advance the money to the companies

that will be doing the work on the schools and they can work out the details later....:hide:

[yurbud]

57. that's the bipartisan way!

[adam in oregon]

53. Infrastructure bank

We do not need a middleman in the form of a for profit bank to fix our roads. The department of the interior, or whatever the government division already fixes the roads already exists.
We should not be creating an unnecessary entity to do something that the government already does. It may need to be reformed or streamlined for better results, but lets not put another hoop to jump through before the government fixes the roads. That is what the gas tax is for. Pretty soon we will have the Coca-Cola toll highway. Or the Citibank bridge.

[Maven]

58. Great Republican plan, Mr. Prez!

Can't wait for those trade deals!

[florida08]

61. SSDD

[JoeyT]

66. Well if nothing else at least we're going to be skipping the whole

"Compromise away all the good stuff and keep the bad stuff" part of this one.
It saves a lot of time to just propose a whole bunch of bad stuff.