U.S. President Barack Obama has urged lawmakers to pass a nearly $450 billion job creation plan combining tax cuts with government spending.
President Obama outlined the American Jobs Act in a speech before a joint session of Congress late Thursday. He said the United States is in a “national crisis” and called for immediate action to revive the economy and improve people’s lives.
During the televised address, Mr. Obama called for an end to partisan politics, describing it as a “political circus,” and urged lawmakers to take steps to help the economy.
Mr. Obama said his proposal would cut taxes for workers and businesses and lead to new jobs for construction workers, teachers and other Americans. The bill includes initiatives to put people to work repairing and modernizing roads, railways, airports, waterways and at least 35,000 schools.
The president said it also offers tax credits to companies that hire long-term unemployed workers and cuts payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business.
Recent figures showed job creation at a standstill, as concerns grow over the possibility of a second recession.
While opposition Republican lawmakers are opposed to increased spending by the debt-ridden government, the party did not present an official response to the president’s speech.
However, Republican congresswoman and 2012 presidential candidate Michele Bachmann followed the speech by saying she did not think it had any new proposals. She said she believes the government is not the solution to creating jobs, but rather “free market, pro-growth” policies should drive job creation. She did not elaborate.
In advance of the speech, some Republicans also said the proposals represent a reprise of what they say are the president’s failed economic policies.
The country’s economy has virtually stalled, and federal figures show that no new jobs were created in August. About 14 million workers are unemployed and millions more are working part-time or in jobs they consider below their skill level.
