The American Jobs Act (AJA) is giving Republican politicians fits. The majority of Democrats support it. The majority if Independents support it. Even the majority of Republicans support it. Still, they cling to their mantra of lies that it will not produce jobs, that it will harm the economy, and it will increase the deficit. Bit would the AJA perform as Obama has claimed? Here’s what the nonpartisan CBO has to say.
President Obama has made a variety of claims about the American Jobs Act, most notably the fact that the bill would boost the economy — and be fully paid for. How do those claims stand up to scrutiny? According to the non-partisan CBO, pretty well.
The Congressional Budget Office on Friday confirmed that President Obama’s jobs bill would be fully paid for over ten years and also gave its seal of approval to a Senate Democrat version that includes a surtax on millionaires. […]
CBO also said that the bill “could have a noticeable impact on economic growth and employment in the next few years.”
All told, the American Jobs Bill, the CBO concluded, would reduce the deficit by $3 billion over the next 10 years, and that doesn’t factor in potential savings associated with increased revenue from a healthier economy.
The CBO’s findings don’t come as a big surprise — Democrats tend to take arithmetic seriously when crafting legislation — but they leave Republicans with no excuses for failure. The bill that’s on the table, as objective matter, creates jobs, cuts taxes, is fully paid for, and reduces the deficit. As far as Congress is concerned, that’s not a bad combination of qualities.
And on the other hand, we have the Republicans’ alternative jobs plan, which doesn’t really exist beyond vague and ineffective platitudes… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Monthly>
It doesn’t take rocket science to figure this out. The Republicans, not the CBO, are lying. Why should they not support a bill that creates jobs, cuts taxes, is fully paid for, and reduces the deficit? It’s really quite simple. Republicans do not represent the people who will get jobs. Republicans do not represent the people whose taxes it will cut. Republicans do not represent us, the 99% that this bill will benefit. Republicans represent the 1%, the millionaires that received all the benefits of socialism for the rich and are asked to give a small portion of that largesse back.
15 Responses to “Would the AJA perform as claimed?”
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That’s why I actually donated cash money to OccupyWallStreeet yesterday. I’ll eat cat food in order to support this group.
I’m not sure how that relates, but bravo! 🙂
I still have a problem why thid did not happen 3 years ago, and is happening during a campaign.
Tom, three years ago Obama was trying to pass bigger things, most of the good parts of which, Republicans blocked.
Agreed, Tom. Perhaps the 99% will be able to hold Obama’s feet to the fire, though. I put a 99% sticker on my car yesterday and suggest that everyone does so. I’d donate to the cause but I literally don’t have money for my bills.
Welcome Upton. 🙂
It is my hope that the 99% can teach Democrats that they will get supports if they put up candidates true to the party’s ideals.
I would, but don’t have a car.
TomCat, do you own or rent your oxygen tank? If you own it, that is a great place, or the carrying case for it depending on the version you have. Or even on the lapel of your jacket! Personally, I’m thinking of having it tatooed on my forehead! That way, I won’t misplace it.
I rent it, Lynn. Forehead? 😕
Where can I get a 99% sticker-??
Phyllis, google “99 percent stickers” and you’ll get a bunch of places. Be sure to spell out percent.
I also donated to the occupy group, and plan on getting directly involved at some point soon.
As to the jobs bill I am sick and tired of hearing that old Republican whine about how raising taxes will kill small businesses. It’s just BS. Supply side economics doesn’t work and the fact the president still embraces it to some extent surprises me. Regardless, they will never change their minds about taxes, at least as long as Obama is president. They have one goal and one only: unseat the president at all cost and that cost includes the American people.
Great piece Tom, as always.
Thanks Mike. I think he’s staying so close to them on the AJA to make sure that can have no valid objection and thus reveal their true nature.
We know that most Democrats support the AJA, most independents support the AJA (bless Bernie Sanders’ soul for his clarity on this), the CBO confirms the claims and numbers, and the Republicans have no articulated plan of their own to counter the AJA.
If the AJA fails, which it likely will in the House since the Republicans hold the majority, the Republicans should be handed their heads on a platter! If the AJA fails because of Republican obstructionism, there needs to be a detailed accounting for the American voters so that they can decide who is screwing who. Also, I think it would be good if lists of political donations over $1,000 were made public so that the voters could see who is buying their representative’s or senator’s vote.
Lynn, the House won’t even bring it up for a vote. It might not make it through the Senate, because of three DINOs.