Obama's Jobs Speech: What Local Politicians Are Saying

Immediately following President Barrack Obama's much anticipated jobs speech, (click here to see a video of the speech from the Washington Post) local politicians chimed in with their own comments. The comments that Oxford Patch received in the forms of news releases from Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-5th District, are posted below. Both Democrats, they applauded Obama's efforts to create more jobs in America. 

Himes said, "President Obama  tonight proposed many of the policies I have long supported – streamlining our tax code, investing in the restoration of our crumbling infrastructure, and addressing our long-term deficit.  The president laid out a plan to restore economic vitality and address the suffering of too many Americans. As he noted, in addition to being fully paid for, the elements of this plan have been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past. It is a plan that both Democrats and Republicans can and must get behind to restore faith in the American economy. 

"Tonight’s speech highlighted the urgent need to focus on jobs – something this Congress has failed to take seriously until now.  It rejected the false choice between jobs today and fiscal stability in the future, and the false choice between economic growth and the regulations that keep us safe.  It challenged us to move beyond political bickering to real solutions.

As the supercommittee begins to meet, and our collective attention turns to the challenges of unemployment and our deficits, we must keep in mind that job creation and fiscal responsibility are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they go hand in hand.  If we address our debt, employers and investors will be more confident in the national economy. Likewise, widespread unemployment has had a profound effect on our deficit, and creating jobs will help get our fiscal house in order.  Moving forward, it is vital that we consider both job creation and deficit reduction.”

And Malloy responded with the following statement: "Tonight, the President made clear that the time for politics is over, and the time for action is now.  President Obama proposed a plan to put Americans back to work, cut their taxes and step up the pace of our economic recovery.

"The President’s proposals will be a direct benefit to Connecticut residents and businesses.  For example, by investing in infrastructure, his proposal would put people to work; by funding education he will avoid layoffs of teachers and increased class sizes; and by extending unemployment insurance, he will keep out of poverty the approximately 78,000 Connecticut workers who will have exhausted their unemployment benefits by the end of this year.

"Importantly, this plan will not increase our national debt. Indeed, if enacted it will accelerate economic growth and reduce the nation’s long-term deficit.  I applaud the President for acting boldly in the face of recent data suggesting that our economic recovery has slowed. Congress should act quickly to pass this plan."