Contours of Obama jobs package coming into focus

[WI_DEM]

VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass., Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is finalizing a jobs package that could include a program to refurbish school buildings nationwide and tax breaks to encourage firms to hire workers.

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.

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.


Critics say the president, who bailed out the auto industry and spent $860 billion to revive the economy after he took office in 2009, has few jobs-boosting options and will have a hard time getting Republicans to accept any new spending plan.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/25/usa-obama-jobs-idUSN1E77J07P20110825

[CelticThunder]

1. Too little, too late.

[emulatorloo]

3. "just a PR move" blah blah blah

[veganlush]

2. yeah it sounds like small bore stuff...

...tax credits for firms that hire more people to stand around due to lack of consumer demand. I like Maddow's idea: hire millions to retrofit the country's nuke plants and other critical infrastructure against unexpected earthquakes and such.

[OHdem10]

4. And this is bold????

This may help a few construction workers?

What about all those degreed (yes College educated)
people)who happen to be over 40?

What about all the young people??

In the first round of stimulus, I distincly remember
Tax cuts being offered to Businesses who hired new
workers????? How has that worked out??? Just asking.

[emulatorloo]

6. Has Obama made his post labor day speech detailing the plan?

Must have missed that, along with Labor Day.

[madrchsod]

9. it`s slowly being released....

[frylock]

16. no, we haven't reached the "it's a done deal so shut the fuck up and accept it" stage yet

[NICO9000]

15. Absolutely spot on

What about all the office jobs that no longer exist for those of us too old and/or infirmed to work on a construction site? This bogus plan is more of the same.

[rug]

5. It sounds as if he's constantly looking over his shoulder to see what the Republicans will say.

[subterranean]

10. He knows exactly what they'll say, or he should by now.

One word: No.

It doesn't matter that the plan consists largely of Republican ideas. If Obama proposes it, they must oppose it.

[Erose999]

7. So tax cuts for the rich, Teach For America, more "tax holiday" paid for out of SS funds, more jobs

sent to Korea.

So basically "stay the course". LOL

[madrchsod]

8. funds to fix schools but no funds to run them...

the state of illinois owes a school near here around 200,000 for the last 3 years. regional administers are`t being paid. schools across the state are using emergency funds to pay teachers,utilities,and maintenance. the list goes on and on...

just a hint to our fearless leader... if we fix stuff then we should use our stuff to fix it with. if we don`t have then pay an american to make it here.

[Bluebear]

11. Yay! More bilateral free trade deals!!

:bounce:

[nashville_brook]

12. wonder what the "steps to boost housing market" are. eliminating the mortgage interest deduction?

[Bluebear]

14. Selling the hones to investors & everybody becomes renters

[Brickbat]

13. Because yeah, free trade is why we're rolling in jobs now!