Amidst GOP calls to cut spending, Obama wants to increase spending on jobs, and is calling for the passage of the jobs bill that recent crises have pushed from the forefront of public attention.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday repeated his call for Congress to pass a $30 billion package to foster hiring and help tackle painfully high levels of unemployment.
"I’m hopeful the House will pass these measures next week and that the Senate will follow as soon as possible — with support from both Democrats and Republicans," Obama said in remarks delivered in the White House Rose Garden.
After the worst recession in decades, many small businesses report trouble getting credit. Obama’s proposal would establish a $30 billion fund to boost lending to small businesses looking to hire and expand operations by providing additional capital to community banks.
The House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee approved the Small Business Lending Fund Act last month by a vote of 42-23.
With U.S. unemployment at 9.7 percent in May despite an apparent return of economic growth, Obama is under enormous pressure to ease the plight of the jobless. Voters are likely to punish his Democratic Party in congressional elections in November… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Reuters>
In some economic decisions (the appointments of Geithner, Bernanke and Summers) Obama has been most foolish. In this, however, he is spot on. There is a right time for fiscal discipline. The time of the GOP spending spree under the Bush Regime was one such. Unfortunately, their spending did nothing to aid the economy and served only to further enrich those who had the most already, almost destroying the economy in the process.
Because the Fed is holding interest rates artificially low, GOP Banksters are speculating, not lending. Like virtually all corporations, they exist for profit only, social responsibility be damned. If they won’t lend to small businesses, somebody needs to do so.
The need for jobs supersedes the need for fiscal responsibility.
4 Responses to “Obama Wants That Jobs Bill”
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I agree that he should give it to the community banks and $30B is less than we spend on the wars in one day. But the Repubs will vote no, just like they do on everything else.
No doubt, Lisa. If it doesn’t add profit for Banksters, the GOP will oppose it.
Not only is a jobs bill the right thing to do, it’s also a political goldmine. If Obama can get this through and get the jobless rate to fall by November, he and the rest of the Democratic Party shall be rewarded at the elections.
Welcome Marvin. That’s quite sensible. It’s what the GOP is trying to prevent, regardless of who it hurts.