Bachmann unveils a jobs blueprint as poll shows voter skepticism over her ability to manage the economy

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

/ AP Photo/Cheryl Senter

On the heels of a Washington Post-Bloomberg News poll showing that voters believe Michele Bachmann would do the most damage to the U.S. economy of any of the presidential candidates the Minnesota congresswoman on Tuesday unveiled an 11-point blueprint for job creation that she says will "return America to a position of economic prominence in the world."

The plan, which Bachmann titled "American Jobs, Right Now," pulls together many of Bachmann's key economic talking points from the campaign trail into one document.

"My solutions are simple." Bachmann said in a press release. "We need to cut government spending, legalize America's God-given natural resources, and stop taxing investment and productivity."

Bachmann's blueprint focuses on wiping out what she calls "job killing regulations" and reducing the size of government through tax and spending cuts. She also promises to repeal two of Obama's signature legislative achievements: the Affordable Care Act (the health care law that opponents call "Obamacare") and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (which Bachmann refers to as the "jobs and housing destruction act."). Bachmann contends that both laws discourage employers from hiring.

Bachmann continues her push for a tax repatriation holiday, allowing American companies with overseas profits that total more than $1.2 trillion the chance to bring that money back to the United States without being taxed the 35 percent rate normally charged on corporate profits. The idea is currently being discussed in Congress as part of a smaller alternative bill if Obama's jobs bill fails to pass, a near certainty. Recent studies by both left- and right- leaning groups have shown that a similar holiday in 2004-05 had little effect on job growth.

In addition, Bachmann's plan calls for increasing exports and expanding the nation's domestic energy production by "reviving the logging, timber, mining and metals industries, and bringing federal lands back into productive activity by repealing radical environmental laws that kill access to natural resources."

Additionally, Bachmann wants to "unleash American investment" through reforming the tax code and "providing incentive for growth." And citing the country's drop in competitiveness worldwide, she calls for a "pathway to innovation," although here she does not offer specifics as to how she might encourage or promote such innovation. Bachmann's declaration that she would consider oil and gas exploration in Florida's Everglades generated strong pushback by lawmakers from both parties.

Finally, tying her economic message to a hot button topic in the GOP primary, Bachmann connected the need to enforce American immigration laws to the country's ability to create jobs. "We must ensure U.S. immigration laws are respected and enforced not only to preserve our national security, but to protect federal, state, and local budgets, and to curb the unfair strain on our country's job markets," her plan states.

[expatriate2]

Bachmann's job plan is simply, "Please elect me so I can have a job."

[readg821]

"Legalizing God given natural resources" translates as "Back to the Days of the Robber Barons" = All for profits, none for the common people! Isn't US History a REQUIRED course for a High School Diploma?

[antoniof123]

I didn't think it was possible but the GOP found someone dumber thank Sarah!

[Progress4USA]

"In addition, Bachmann's plan calls for increasing exports and expanding the nation's domestic energy production by "reviving the logging, timber, mining and metals industries, and bringing federal lands back into productive activity by repealing radical environmental laws that kill access to natural resources."
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Yet more proof of the Tealiban Terrorists out to destroy America...

[Progress4USA]

"legalize America's God-given natural resources"
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She's talking about pot, right????

[euge005]

Well this shows ever the dullest tool in the shed can get one issue right out of 11. But except for immigration enforcement the poor dumb broad has no clue. She is just repeating what the right wing money brokers tell her to say and except for being more extream has few differences from what ever other sold out pol chrony of the koch brothrs has to say. It wouldbe good to hear some honesty from even one of these clowns, lke admit that taxes are the lowest in the last 50 years thanks to President Obama, or tell the dead enders in their party that Obama is really a citizen.

[tsigili]

I refuse to sacrifice the environment for jobs. Not only is it unnecessary, it is very short sighted, and destructive.

[euge005]

Well their god Ronnie had his comments about trees making pollution, right? And Jim Brady before he took one in the head for Regean quipped about the killer trees. And dim blub Bush had his goons at Interior looking the other way while the logging companyies increased their clear cutting in a discraseful manner. So what is new, the GOP love money and nothing else matters to them., Well maybe the Gays they hate the guns they love and the God they want to ram down your throat Iran style.

[tvwatcher5345]

bachmann said the higher fees banks charge are because of the dodd/frank bill, will she also say the rising power of iran in the middleast is because the bush administration removed their number one enemy sadam husien from iraq, i double dog dare her

[tvwatcher5345]

also i think her husband seems a little delicate

[Lindag10]

Her husband is "delicate"? As in he's gay. He keeps trying to "pray it away", but alas hasn't had any success.

[liselle3]

Go away crazy lady.

[godspede]

"legalize America's God-given natural resources"

...you mean, act like good Stewards of Earth and consume everything on our planet? How fantastically short-sighted and sensationalist.

I agree that we should cut wasteful spending, though! Like those wars, the ones responsible for our decline into debt presently and in the 80s!