Protecting the Middle Class News

The American Jobs Act Bus Tour: President Obama at Guilford Technical Community College

President Barack Obama holds a roundtable meeting with teachers at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, N.C., during the American Jobs Act Bus Tour, Oct. 18, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Jamestown, North Carolina is a small community of about 3,000 situated between Greensboro and High Point. It's home to Guilford Technical Community College, where President Obama this morning spoke at a roundtable with educators and addressed a crowd of teachers and students.

As the President sat down for his discussion with the group of teachers and soon-to-be teachers, he talked about how cuts to education at the state and local level have become an alarming trend:

[One] of the concerns that I've had over the course of the last several months -- in fact, the last couple of years -- are the layoffs that we've seen in education and the cutbacks we've seen in education all across the country. States and local governments are under a big crunch. And at precisely the time when we need to be emphasizing education and putting our resources into education, we're seeing cutbacks all across the board. Teachers are losing their jobs. Schools are having to cut back on vital programs that are helping young people.

And the American Jobs Act, the bill that I put before Congress, would help to curb some of those trends.

Now, Congress will have an opportunity to take steps to alleviate the crisis.

Monday in the Senate, Democrats introduced the Teachers and First Responders Act -- a $35 billion program designed to preserve jobs for educators, police officers, and fire fighters. Their proposal is the first part of the American Jobs Act, and Senator Harry Reid, the Majority Leader, pledged to bring it to a vote, perhaps before the end of this week.

But as the President told folks in Jamestown, that's just the first step. The American Jobs Act is about getting people all over the country back on the job:

Congress will have a chance to say whether unemployed Americans should continue to struggle -- or whether we are going to put them back to work, making our schools state-of-the-art; making sure that our roads and bridges aren’t crumbling. They’re going to have a chance to vote on whether or not we’re going to give people who are long-term unemployed a chance to get back on the job and reform our unemployment insurance system, and build a better life. They’re going to get a chance to take a stand on whether we should ask people like me to pay our fair share so that middle-class families and small businesses can get a tax cut.

American Jobs Act Bus Tour: President Obama speaks at Asheville Regional Airport

The first stop on the American Jobs Act Bus Tour was Asheville, North Carolina, a city of 76,000 located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Air Force One landed at Asheville Regional Airport, where President Obama was greeted by Senator Kay Hagan and Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy. He spoke just before 11:00.

The American Jobs Act includes a proposal to provide $2 billion to improve safety, add capacity and modernize infrastructure at airports across the country .

Asheville Regional Airport could be eligible for $60 million of those funds. And as the President said, there's plenty of work to go around:

In this airport right here in Asheville, you've got a runway that needs to be widened and repaired. You've got a taxiway that's in the wrong spot –- which means that planes sometimes get too close together. So we could be doing some work right here at the Asheville Airport that would help boost tourism, help to boost the economy here, put people to work right now.

But it's not just here in Asheville. All across the state, you've got highways that need to be built. You've got bridges that need to be fixed. You've got schools that need to be modernized. And that's what America used to do best. We used to build things -- built the Transcontinental Railroad; built the Golden Gate Bridge; the Hoover Dam; the Grand Central Station. There's no reason why we should sit here and watch the best highways and the newest airports being built in China. We should be building them right here in the United States of America. Right here in North Carolina.

This afternoon, the President will stop for a BBQ lunch and later visit West Wilkes High School in Miller's Creek, North Carolina.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the American Jobs Act at Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville, N.C., Oct. 17, 2011. The event kicks off the President’s three-day American Jobs Act Bus Tour. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

President Obama and President Lee of the Republic of Korea Speak in Michigan

President Barack Obama and President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea, deliver remarks on the trade agreement, at the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant, Orion Township, Michigan, Oct. 14, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Earlier today, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and President Obama did something out of the ordinary for a state visit: They got out of Washington.

Together, the two leaders toured the General Motors Orion Assembly plant in Michigan -- then spoke to automotive workers.

When President Obama came into office, the plant was in trouble, slated to be closed. But the President made the decision to intervene and save the U.S. auto industry from collapse. Today, more than 1,700 full and part-time employees at Orion are hard at work producing the brand new Chevy Sonic.

President Lee wore a Detroit Tigers baseball cap as he discussed the benefits American workers will see from the new free trade agreement:  

"I know, folks, that some of you here may think that with the implementation of the KORUS FTA, that somehow your jobs may be exported or go somewhere else. But let me tell you one thing: That is not true. I am here with President Obama today because I want to give this promise to you, and that is that the KORUS FTA will not take away any of your jobs. Rather, it will create more jobs for you and your family, and it is going to protect your job. And that is the pledge that I give you today."

President Obama then described the trade deal as a "win-win":  

"Here in the United States, this trade agreement will support at least 70,000 American jobs. It will increase exports. It will boost our economy by more than our last nine trade agreements combined. And as I said, the good thing is we’ve got a balanced situation. It's not just a matter of folks sending a bunch of stuff here. Koreans are also buying American products. That's what makes it a win-win."

President Obama: Americans Want Congress to Do Its Job

President Obama today vowed to keep fighting for the American Jobs Act, despite  the Senate’s failure to pass the bill that would keep teachers in the classroom, cops on the beat, and put construction workers back on the job while providing tax cuts for middle-class families and small business owners and help our veterans share in the opportunity they defend. 

The President was speaking at the White House Forum on American Latino Heritage, where he joined Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in celebrating Latino culture, and honoring the contributions that so many Latinos have made  to our nation. He also spoke about the struggles facing the Latino community, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country during this time of economic crisis, and promised that his focus would remain on to restore a sense of security and fairness for all Americans:

We will keep organizing and we will keep pressuring and we will keep voting until this Congress finally meets its responsibilities and actually does something to put people back to work and improve the economy.  

We’ll give members of Congress a chance to vote on whether they think that we should keep teachers out of work -- or put them back in the classroom where they belong, teaching our kids.  

They’ll get a chance to vote on whether they think that construction workers should stay idle while our roads and bridges are falling apart -- or whether we should put these men and women back to work rebuilding America.  

Republicans say that one of the most important things we can do is cut taxes.  Well, they get a chance to vote on whether we should cut taxes for middle-class families, or let them go up.  This job would cut taxes for virtually every worker and small business in America; 25 million Latinos would benefit.  If you’re a small business owner who hires a new worker or raises wages, you’d get another tax cut.  If you hire a veteran, like Sergeant Petry, you’d get another tax cut.  Anybody who fights for our country should not have to fight for a job when they come home.  

Now, I know some folks in Congress blocked this jobs bill because of how it’s paid for. Well, we already agreed to cut nearly $1 trillion in government spending. We’ve offered to cut even more in order to bring down the deficit. But we can’t just cut without asking those of us who’ve been most fortunate in our society to pay our fair share.  And that’s not about punishing success; it’s about making choices. If we want to create jobs and close the deficit, and invest in our future, the money has got to come from somewhere.  

And so we’ve got to ask ourselves a question: Would we rather keep the tax code with its loopholes exactly as they are for millionaires and billionaires -- or do you want construction workers to have a job rebuilding roads and bridges and schools?  Because you know a lot of our kids in the community are learning in trailers right now. Why wouldn’t we want to put people back to work rebuilding those schools? Would you rather fight for special interest tax breaks, or do you want to fight for tax cuts for small businesses and middle-class families in your neighborhood?  I think I know the answer.  

In the end, this is a debate about fairness and who we are as a country.  It’s a debate about what we believe in; what kind of country do we want to be.  When Michelle and I tuck our daughters into bed at night, we think about the fact that we are only where we are because somebody who came before us met their responsibilities. They put the America Dream within our reach.  They made sure that there were student loan programs out there, and they made sure that there were decent schools out there, that there were opportunities for everybody. That’s the reason all of you are here today -- because somebody made an investment 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 40 years ago, to ensure that you had a chance at success.  

Those aren’t white or black or Latino or Asian or Native American values. Those are American values. Now it’s up to us  -- this generation -- to do our part to invest now so that the next generation has a shot. 

These are tough times, and a lot of people are living week to week, paycheck to paycheck, even day to day. They need action, and they need it now. They want Congress to work for the people who elected them in the first place. They want Congress to do their job.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the American Latino Heritage Forum at the Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., Oct. 12, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

A Big Vote to Protect Consumers

A little over a year ago, the President overcame the fierce lobbying of the financial industry and Republican obstruction and signed into law Wall Street Reform, which included the strongest consumer protections in history, critical reforms to rein in Wall Street and protections against another financial crisis. But as he said at the time, the promise of this legislation would only be realized if we implemented the law in a way that truly reformed our financial system, making sure that banks are competing based on the service they provide to consumers, not on the hidden fees they can charge or the non-transparent practices they can get away with. 

Today, the Senate Banking Committee will take a vote that is critical to implementing this law so that it fully protects consumers from hidden fees and abusive practices: the committee is scheduled to vote on the nomination of Richard Cordray to become the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB was created as part of Wall Street reform to enforce consumer protections.   

Today’s vote, and the subsequent vote by the full Senate to confirm Richard Cordray, is so important because without a director the CFPB is hamstrung in its ability to protect consumers. Without a director, the CFPB will be unable to ensure that banks, debt collectors, private student loan providers and payday loan providers are properly supervised and that consumers are not put at risk of falling prey to the same kinds of abusive practices that helped cause the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. 

But despite these important protections, Senate Republicans have pledged to oppose this nomination, choosing to support special interests at the expense of consumers. This move is just the latest in a string of efforts by Congressional Republicans to defund, delay and dismantle President Obama’s Wall Street Reform law. 

Republicans on the Committee have admitted that their opposition has nothing to do with Cordray’s credentials. He is the former Attorney General and Treasurer of Ohio with a solid track record of cracking down on companies that break the rules while supporting companies that play by them.  Throughout his career, Cordray has tackled problems by partnering with others – regardless of party affiliation or ideology – to craft pragmatic and sensible solutions.  He addressed Ohio’s foreclosure crisis head-on with his “Save Our Homes” initiative working with bankers, businesses, nonprofits, and government officials to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes.  And he has been endorsed by elected officials on both sides of the aisle, consumer advocates and business leaders alike and editorial boards across the country. Despite his record as a pragmatic problem solver, Senate Republicans are opposing his nomination, standing with the financial industry and against the veterans, homeowners and middle class families that the CFPB is charged with protecting. 

We can’t afford to go back to a system where consumers were put at risk by those who gamed the system, and our whole economy was vulnerable to a massive financial crisis.  That’s why reform matters.  That’s why the CFPB matters.  And President Obama will fight efforts to repeal or undermine these important changes.  It’s time for Richard Cordray to be confirmed so that the CFPB can do its job and fully protect consumers. 

What You Missed: Open for Questions on the American Jobs Act

On Thursday, September 15th, Jon Carson, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, and Brian Deese, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, answered your questions from Facebook, Twitter, and WhiteHouse.gov on the President's American Jobs Act.

Download the fact sheet to learn more about how the American Jobs Act will create opportunity for young Americans or find out more about the American Jobs Act.

The questions below are paraphrased from the questions asked by participants during the live chat:

• How does this bill help hiring overall? Why do prevailing wage rates have to apply?
• How will the American Jobs Act help those that want to work but first require additional training?
• How will this affect "99ers"--those that have exhausted their 99 weeks of unemployment insurance?
• Will this bill create or promote the creation of more green jobs?
• Where does national service fit into the American Jobs Act?
• As part of the plan will the White House support comprehensive tax reform?
• How will the funds be administered to ensure that they really reach those in need of jobs?
• What kind of jobs can the President create without Congressional approval?
• What is the strategy for gaining Republican support of the bill in the House?
• Is the American Jobs Act a tax increase for all Americans?
• What direct investments in public schools does this bill include?
• Who is the small business tax cut in the plan aimed at?
• What is Project Rebuild?
• What are the couple most noteworthy parts of the American Jobs Act?

Open for Questions: The American Jobs Act

On Thursday, September 15^th at 2:00PM EDT, the White House will host a special “Open for Questions” event.

Last week, President Obama unveiled the American Jobs Act before a Joint Session of Congress and yesterday the President sent the American Jobs Act to Congress. This plan puts more people back to work and puts more money in the pockets of working Americans. On Thursday, September 15^th at 2:00PM EDT Obama Administration officials will answer questions submitted through Facebook, Twitter, and the White House website during a live event that you won’t want to miss. 

Participating Obama Administration include:

• Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
• Jon Carson, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement

Right now, you can submit questions through:

• Ask questions in advance on the White House facebook wall
• Ask us through a form on WhiteHouse.gov

On September 15th at 2:00 p.m. EDT, you can watch and engage live:

• Ask the panel questions on Twitter with the hashtag #WHChat
• Ask question through the White House Live facebook app
• Watch the event on WhiteHouse.gov/live

Reclaiming the Future Through American Manufacturing

“I can remember when the term ‘Made in America’ was synonymous with quality, innovation, high style, and an overall commitment to excellence,” said Giovanni Feroce, CEO of Alex and Ani. Remaining dedicated to these high standards, Giovanni is reinvigorating American manufacturing through his leadership of the Rhode Island-based jewelry business.

Giovanni Feroce, CEO of the eco-friendly jewelry company Alex and Ani, hired 72 people last year alone, and anticipates to break that record next year.

Bringing Transparency to College Costs

More and more, Americans understand the critical role that earning a college degree plays in their lives, with prospects for higher earnings and further advancements that extend throughout their careers. However, one of the greatest challenges Americans face is the rising cost of higher education.

To help students make informed decisions about their choice for higher education, today the Department of Education launched an online College Affordability and Transparency Center on the Department of Education’s College Navigator website. As part of this Center, the Department posted lists that highlight institutions with the highest tuition prices, highest net prices, and institutions whose prices are rising at the fastest rates. Institutions whose prices are rising the fastest will report why costs have gone up and how the institution will address rising prices. The Department will summarize these reports and make them publicly available to parents and students.

The President has been committed to making higher education more affordable, and today’s announcement complements our ongoing efforts. Since taking office, we have worked to expand student aid, improve options to repay student loans, and give more students access to higher education. We have also enhanced consumer information on the FAFSA and on the College Navigator portal, a resource that can provide information on thousands of institutions of higher education across the nation. These existing tools will complement the informative resources newly available today.

But colleges also have a role to play as we work to ease the financial burden of higher education. In his State of the Union address last year, the President called on colleges to do a better job of keeping costs down. Additionally, state budget constraints present increasing challenges for affordability. Too often the answer has been to cut aid to public colleges and increase tuition, pushing the financial burden on families already struggling to make ends meet.

Ultimately, better information alone will not cure the problem of college affordability. However, it will enhance the choices and decisions made by families as they pursue higher education. The new College Transparency and Affordability Center is just a first step in helping students better understand their path in postsecondary education; the Administration will continue to promote transparency in educational costs that will help all current and prospective students of higher education make a smart investment in their postsecondary studies.

Melody Barnes is Director of the Domestic Policy Council.