Obama says 'Pass this jobs bill.' But what's actually in the bill?

[babsbunny]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0917/Obama-says-Pass-this-jobs-bill.-But-what-s-actually-in-the-bill

There's a lot in President Obama's 200-page bill for Congress and the public to chew over. Here's a look at the main points in Obama's American Jobs Act.

By Mark Trumbull, Staff writer / September 17, 2011

President Obama used his weekly address to the nation to pound the same terse message that he's been repeating all week -- that Congress should act quickly on his recent proposals for job creation.

"It’s a jobs bill that does two simple things: put more people back to work, and more money back in the pockets of people who are working," Mr. Obama said in his Saturday address. "You can help make it happen by telling your congressperson to pass this jobs bill right away."

But there's a lot in this 200-page bill for Congress and the public to chew over.

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The plan's main features, which Obama sketched in his Saturday remarks, are payroll tax cuts and investments in things like roads and schools.

Less-publicized steps include everything from experiments in job training to a provision designed to prevent discrimination against the unemployed.

Here's a look at the main points in the American Jobs Act.

[truedelphi]

1. FWIW, I would rather see the President just offer the

States the money, with stipulations that the states must use it. That it cannot sit inside coffers, but be put to work re-hiring people that the state or their counties recently laid off.

Otherwise there is the dangers, that took over some of the other of the President's programs, that the red tape and the run arounds prevent solid projects from coming into existence, while roads to nowhere end up being built.

[dkf]

2. Exactly why I am skeptical this program will work.

Government isn't agile enough to take advantage of stimulus. I've lost my faith.

[onethatcares]

3. hell, prickscott would send it back anyway.

what more can I say?

[NNN0LHI]

5. But I have two out of work grown children who aren't recently laid off state or county workers

You don't want anything in this jobs bill for them?

Is that what you are suggesting?

Don

[truedelphi]

7. From what I have heard, they will get jobs in construction -

If they have the connections. And young and fit enough.

There is also part of the program that has to do with teachers.

So this bill helps people who can do architectural design work, like will be needed for the various infrastructure, and the school buildings. And also construction.

And again, some part of the deal is for teachers.

The big problem is - whenever anything is handled out of Washington, it ends up being three to ten times more expensive. Regardless of what it is.

[NNN0LHI]

8. So you think the money should be handed over to the states too?

And then let my unemployed kids fight over the crumbs that are left over from whatever trickles down from that?

No, I don't think I like that idea.

Don

[exelwood]

4. This bill is intended...

...to do for Obama what a similar bill did for Harry Truman in '48. The Republicans did a similar thing to that bill and Truman was able to ride Republican obstructionism all the way to a full term. Of course, times are different now and things are much worse economically but Obama must stay the course!

[Modern_Matthew]

6. I trust the President and fully support this bill as-is. nt