Yesterday, President Obama got serious about jobs. He proposed a jobs summit to look at options for job creation.
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday he would host a December conference to brainstorm how to beat back double-digit unemployment, and repeated a pledge to fight for U.S. exports as he toured Asia next week.
"We have an obligation to consider every additional responsible step that we can to encourage and accelerate job creation in this country," Obama told reporters before departing for Japan, the first stop on his trip.
This is very good news. Video & more below the fold.
Transcript:
As I've said from the start of this crisis, hiring often takes time to catch up to economic growth. And given the magnitude of the economic turmoil that we've experienced, employers are reluctant to hire.
Small businesses and large firms are demanding more of their employees, their increasing their hours, and adding temporary workers -- but these companies have not yet been willing to take the steps necessary to hire again. Meanwhile, millions of Americans -- our friends, our neighbors, our family members -- are desperately searching for jobs. This is one of the great challenges that remains in our economy -- a challenge that my administration is absolutely determined to meet.
We all know that there are limits to what government can and should do, even during such difficult times. But we have an obligation to consider every additional, responsible step that we can [take] to encourage and accelerate job creation in this country. And that's why, in December, we'll be holding a forum at the White House on jobs and economic growth. We’ll gather CEOs and small business owners, economists and financial experts, as well as representatives from labor unions and nonprofit groups, to talk about how we can work together to create jobs and get this economy moving again.
It's important that we don't make any ill-considered decisions -- even with the best intentions -- particularly at a time when our resources are so limited. But it's just as important that we are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we’ve already taken to put America back to work. That’s what this forum is about.
Assuming the health care reform passes (without discriminatory amendments and with a public option), a jobs bill is the next logical step toward helping ordinary Americans take control of our lives and regain a sense of dignity and pride.
There are also political benefits. I mean this in a non-cynical sense. If you conduct the business of government in the interests of the people, the people will reward you. I certainly hope that the summit is as inclusive as it sounds.
The jobs forum in December will include business leaders, small business owners, labor union leaders and others. It marks a pivot for Democrats as they head into next year’s midterm elections, where the party’s control of Congress is at stake.
Frankly I can think of other voices I'd want at the table for that discussion, but it's a good start.
This short announcement brought to mind what I thought was the most effective ad of the Obama campaign, released in the summer of 2008:
And while I disagree with the president's analysis that a second stimulus is not necessary to inspire this massive job creation, I'm happy to see the discussion beginning.
Nearly 80 percent of Americans favor a federal jobs bill, as our own Jed Lewison reported on Wednesday. Once the people chime in and create the momentum, a jobs bill could definitely follow.
Let's get to work!