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Obama: Congress Should Back Plan to Hire Teachers

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VOA News
U.S. President Barack Obama says 300,000 education jobs have been lost since 2009, and Congress has done nothing about it.

Obama said Saturday in his politically charged weekly address "almost every Republican in Congress" rejected his jobs bill that would have rehired teachers and prevented additional layoffs.  He said the Republicans voted instead for an economic plan to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.

The president said the White House has launched initiatives to improve schools, including investing in math and science programs and increasing financial aid for millions of college students.

Watch President Obama's weekly address:



In the Republican address, Representative Vicky Hartzler from the Midwestern state of Missouri criticized Democrats and Obama because Congress failed to restore disaster programs for farmers suffering from the worst drought in 25 years.

The legislation passed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, but the Democratic-controlled Senate failed to vote on the legislation before shutting down for its August vacation. 

Watch weekly Republican address:



Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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by: Walt from: 54241
August 18, 2012 10:44 AM
I'm sorry, but President Obama scared the hell out me this week. President Obama announced during one of his stops that the Auto bailout in particular GM has been a huge success, and they are number one again. The president than went on to say that he wants to employ the same bailout for other industry in the country! Mr. President the GM bailout has not been a success in way shape or form! GM stock down 40% since the bailout. Scores of dealerships closed adding to the unemployment. The American tax payers have not been paid back. In fact at the close of yesterday GM was at $21.00 per share, The stock will need to be $53.00 per share for the debt to break even! GM's problems are far from being solved. At present course GM will be critical yet again it's retirement package, dismal sales of the volt and business partnership with the Chinese Government have caused a lack of enthusiastic confidence among the American buyers.

The American Tax Payers don't need to bailout any other industry's. Besides where are we going to get they money? China.


by: Scott from: Wisconsin
August 18, 2012 10:15 AM
Has any one heard of the “Law of diminishing returns”?


by: sealily from: coast of maine
August 18, 2012 10:10 AM
It's a great idea, but...Who would end up paying for these teachers? Federal government or the local governments?


by: Don Hutchinson from: Boston MA
August 18, 2012 10:10 AM
Somehow this reminds me of the promise to put 100,000 cops on the beat. That lasted for two years until the federal funding ran out.
Local taxpayers are the best judge of what is affordable, not the Democrats and their supporters in the NEA
Another brazen example of a president trying to woo support by using other people money.


by: Saynotobo from: Ftw
August 18, 2012 10:10 AM
Obama where is your passion for putting none union people back to work.

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