USA

Obama: Congress Needs to Help Rehire Teachers

President Barack Obama approaches podium to discuss about the economy, White House, June 8, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama says the failure by Congress to act on his jobs bill is preventing teachers from being rehired.

During his weekly address Saturday, Obama said over the past three years, 250,000 teachers have lost their jobs. He says approval of his jobs bill would help states rehire more teachers and prevent more layoffs as budgets are being tightened.

President Obama says putting teachers back in the classroom is one of the steps to help grow the U.S. economy.


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In the Republican address, Congressman Erik Paulsen of Minnesota said President Obama's policies are stifling the economy.

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Paulsen says the president's health care law is killing job growth opportunities, especially among small businesses.

Paulsen adds that the health care law has only driven up the cost of health care.


Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.