Obamas American Jobs Act As unemployment hovers around 9% and average Americans are hard pressed to make ends

meet, President Obama has proposed a bold new initiative to spur economic growth and create much needed new jobs. Democrats broadly support the measure. Republican leaders, chastened by the anger over their tactics surrounding their Debt Ceiling Hostage taking maneuver are saying we will consider it, while the rank and file Congressional Rs are saying already picking it apart. Their alternative: more tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. The Democrats of Harris County fight to restore the middle class by promoting opportunity for all. This bill provides a way of reviving opportunity for thousands of hard working Americans by putting them back to work. What American Jobs Act does: The centerpiece of the bill, known as the American Jobs Act, is an extension and expansion of the cut in payroll taxes, worth $240 billion, under which the tax paid by employees would be cut in half through 2012. Smaller businesses would also get a cut in their payroll taxes, as well as a tax holiday for hiring new employees. The plan also provides $140 billion for modernizing schools and repairing roads and bridges spending that Mr. Obama portrayed as critical to maintaining Americas competitiveness.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/us/politics/09payroll.html?pagewanted=all

Key Ideas: Payroll tax holiday

Obama has proposed cutting in half the taxes paid by businesses on their first $5 million in payroll, targeting the benefit to the 98 percent of firms that have payroll below this threshold Republicans widely supported this in the past, most recently during last years debate on extending the Bush tax cuts. Obama also proposes completely eliminate payroll taxes for firms that increase their payroll by adding new workers or increasing the wages of their current worker (the benefit is capped at the first $50 million in payroll increases). Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sponsored a payroll tax cut for employers in 2010 who hired workers who have been unemployed for at least 60 days.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/10/most-obamas-jobs-proposals-have-drawn-gop-support-in-past/#ixzz1XaaJ9pBo

Extending unemployment benefits

Obama has proposed reforming the jobless aid system with a bridge to work program that offers temporary work or job training to the unemployed. The proposal is based on the Georgia Works program, which has been supported by Republicans, most recently House Speaker Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/10/most-obamas-jobs-proposals-have-drawn-gop-support-in-past/#ixzz1Xaae57ux

Creating an infrastructure bank

The president wants to spend $10 billion to capitalize an infrastructure bank to leverage private and public investment for modernizing roads, rail, airports and waterways. Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, has co-sponsored similar legislation. Expanding access to high-speed wireless as part of a plan for freeing up the nation's spectrum. Rep. Greg Walden R-Ore., has held hearings on the role of spectrum policy in promoting wireless broadband, bringing interoperable broadband communications to public safety, creating jobs, and reducing the deficit. Getting the the wealthiest people in this country and the largest corporations have got to begin paying their fair share of taxes

Democrats say: We need jobs now, we cant wait for the next election. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics and a top John McCain adviser in 2008, estimates that the presidents plan would add 1.9 MILLION jobs, increase economic growth by 2 percentage points in 2012 and lower unemployment by one full percentage point. Zandi added: Something like this is much needed. The economy is on the edge of recession.
http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/

Republicans say: Its the presidents fault we are in this mess. We cant spend more money on jobs now. A debate that was forced upon us by the historic run-up in debt thats occurred over the past two and a half years as a result of this Presidents unprecedented spending, McConnell said. Yet here we are, tonight, being asked by this same president to support even more government spending with the assurance that hell figure out a way to pay for it later.
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/obama-jobs-bill-top-10-false-and-irresponsible-republican-responses/politics/2011/09/09/26697

Democrats say: We need to rebuild our infrastructure. It is a scandal that our roads and bridges Democrats say: Our roads, bridges and schools are crumbling creating threats to our lives and wellbeing not only now but in the future also. We need the next generation of quality goods to bear the stamp: Made in America. The infrastructure bank will do just that. Republicans say and have said (they are almost silent on this at the moment): This is not going to create a ton of new jobs. It will create a few jobs, but it will also add to our rapidly growing national debt. We need more tax breaks for corporations. We need to remove burdensome regulations, in other words the Bush growth model. Democrats say: We can't afford for folks who are the most fortunate to do the least, and put the largest burden on the folks who are struggling the most. That doesn't make sense. We cant afford to keep tax loopholes for oil companies, or the tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires in the present tax code. We have to work as hard for tax cuts for workers and middle-class people as the lobbyist work for oil companies and rich folks. Republicans say: Obama is resorting to the lowest form of political rhetoric. And thats trying to pit people against each other on the basis of class and income. Thats class warfare. We need to provide

more tax breaks for wealthy corporations and individuals. This will remove uncertainty and give them the incentive to invest and grow our economy. A final side note: TEXAS SCHOOLS WOULD FARE WELL UNDER OBAMA JOBS PLAN Based on size of school districts Texas could fare well under Pres. Barack Obamas plan to funnel another $60 billion to schools districts to modernize campuses and avert layoffs. That would be, of course, if the president can get his jobs proposal past skeptical Republicans who are ready to nix another round of federal spending. Today, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, out on the road for a three-day six-state Rust Belt bus tour, offered up an outline on some of the specifics of Obamas education spending proposal, which would carve out $30 billion to modernize an estimated 35,000 public school and community college campuses and $30 billion to save an estimated 280,000 education-related jobs. The money for modernization plays well for Texas because 40 percent of it, off the top, will go to the nations 100 largest districts. Texas knows big school districts. In fact, 18 of the Top 100 districts are in Texas, ranging from Houston on the high end to Brownsville on the low end. The $30 billion in modernization funds is divided between $25 billion for K-12 public schools, including charters, and $5 billion for community colleges. The balance for funding K-12, according to department officials, will be disbursed to states by formula. Half must go to campuses with needs. The other half must be disbursed to charters and districts based on the Title I formula funding.

A sample elevator speech ( make up your own using the ideas presented here): I believe America is strong when we reward those who work hard and play by the rules. That means creating job opportunities for those who are unemployed through no fault of their own. It means that as we share in prosperity, we also need to share in hard times. Those who prospered most in the good times should be willing to help out in the bad times when their neighbors are in desperate need. Besides, we are building our future success by doing what the President has asked. We need to tell our Congressman and Senators to pass this jobs bill.