Obama Looks To Boost Middle Class
President Barack Obama reached out to the working and middle classes Friday, re-announcing the creation of a Middle Class Task Force and reversing a number of George W. Bush's executive orders that critics regard as bad for labor unions.
The president called the economic slump a "continuing disaster" for America's families during a White House speech Friday, adding that the nation's leaders cannot waste time finding solutions for ailing economy.
And although his task force centers on the middle class, Mr. Obama said that "we're not forgetting the poor." He said his administration wants to make sure low-income people "get a piece" of the American pie "if they're willing to work for it."
Vice President Joe Biden will lead the task force, comprising a panel of advisers and four Cabinet members.
"Quite simply, a strong middle class equals a strong America. We can't have one without the other. … It is our charge to get the middle class - the backbone of this country - up and running again," Biden said.
On labor issues, Mr. Obama signed a series of executive orders Friday that he said should "level the playing field" for labor unions in struggles with management.
The orders Mr. Obama signed will:
Require federal contractors to offer jobs to current workers when contracts change.
Reverse a Bush order requiring federal contractors to post notice that workers can limit financial support of unions serving as their exclusive bargaining representatives.
Prevent federal contractors from being reimbursed for expenses meant to influence workers deciding whether to form a union and engage in collective bargaining.
"We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests," Obama said before signing the executive orders during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
"I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it's part of the solution," he said, to a round of applause. "You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."
Both were meant as a way for the new administration to connect with workers at the end of a week that has seen U.S. companies announce thousands more jobs cuts.
"Over the last 100 years the middle class was built on the back of organized labor. Without their weight, heft and their insistence starting in the early 1900s we wouldn't have the middle class we have now, in my view," Biden told cable channel CNBC on Thursday. "So I think labor getting a fair share of the pie is part of it."
The Democratic president, not even two weeks into his term, was already trying to balance the needs of one of his party's most reliable constituencies - organized labor - while he also reaches out to Republicans.
Mr. Obama doesn't necessarily need Republican support for his $800 billion economic stimulus plan and other initiatives to clear the Democratic-controlled Congress, but he has said he wants to transcend the usual partisan Washington politics as the country faces two wars and its worst recession in 70 years.
The government reported more bad economic news Friday. The U.S. economy shrank at a 3.8 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century.
On Thursday, Mr. Obama lashed out at Wall Street, saying it was shameful that employees were paid more than $18 billion in bonuses while their crumbling financial sector received a historic bailout from U.S. taxpayers.
Mr. Obama was responding to reports Thursday that Wall Street executives were paid billions in bonuses last year as Congress poured hundreds of billions into the financial system to address an economy reeling from souring debt, defaulting mortgages and choked lending.
With new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at his side, the president said the payouts were "the height of irresponsibility."
"It is shameful," Mr. Obama said. "And part of what we're going to need is for the folks on Wall Street who are asking for help to show some restraint, and show some discipline, and show some sense of responsibility."
Labor leaders also visited the White House on Thursday, where Mr. Obama welcomed them to the East Room as he signed his first major piece of legislation, an equal-pay act that organized labor and women's groups championed.
Unions have been lobbying the Obama administration to repeal scores of executive orders they view as hostile to their cause. Officials gave administration officials their top 10 executive orders they wanted to see dismantled quickly.
Many executive orders are enacted and repealed based on which party controls the White House. One of the rules Mr. Obama planned to repeal Friday was approved by President George. H.W. Bush, removed by President Bill Clinton and reinstated by the second President George Bush.
CBS/ AP The president called the economic slump a "continuing disaster" for America's families during a White House speech Friday, adding that the nation's leaders cannot waste time finding solutions for ailing economy.
And although his task force centers on the middle class, Mr. Obama said that "we're not forgetting the poor." He said his administration wants to make sure low-income people "get a piece" of the American pie "if they're willing to work for it."
Vice President Joe Biden will lead the task force, comprising a panel of advisers and four Cabinet members.
"Quite simply, a strong middle class equals a strong America. We can't have one without the other. … It is our charge to get the middle class - the backbone of this country - up and running again," Biden said.
On labor issues, Mr. Obama signed a series of executive orders Friday that he said should "level the playing field" for labor unions in struggles with management.
The orders Mr. Obama signed will:
"We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests," Obama said before signing the executive orders during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
"I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it's part of the solution," he said, to a round of applause. "You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."
Labor leaders visited the White House for a second consecutive day Friday for the announcements.Read full transcript of President Obama's address
Both were meant as a way for the new administration to connect with workers at the end of a week that has seen U.S. companies announce thousands more jobs cuts.
"Over the last 100 years the middle class was built on the back of organized labor. Without their weight, heft and their insistence starting in the early 1900s we wouldn't have the middle class we have now, in my view," Biden told cable channel CNBC on Thursday. "So I think labor getting a fair share of the pie is part of it."
The Democratic president, not even two weeks into his term, was already trying to balance the needs of one of his party's most reliable constituencies - organized labor - while he also reaches out to Republicans.
Mr. Obama doesn't necessarily need Republican support for his $800 billion economic stimulus plan and other initiatives to clear the Democratic-controlled Congress, but he has said he wants to transcend the usual partisan Washington politics as the country faces two wars and its worst recession in 70 years.
The government reported more bad economic news Friday. The U.S. economy shrank at a 3.8 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century.
On Thursday, Mr. Obama lashed out at Wall Street, saying it was shameful that employees were paid more than $18 billion in bonuses while their crumbling financial sector received a historic bailout from U.S. taxpayers.
Mr. Obama was responding to reports Thursday that Wall Street executives were paid billions in bonuses last year as Congress poured hundreds of billions into the financial system to address an economy reeling from souring debt, defaulting mortgages and choked lending.
With new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at his side, the president said the payouts were "the height of irresponsibility."
"It is shameful," Mr. Obama said. "And part of what we're going to need is for the folks on Wall Street who are asking for help to show some restraint, and show some discipline, and show some sense of responsibility."
Labor leaders also visited the White House on Thursday, where Mr. Obama welcomed them to the East Room as he signed his first major piece of legislation, an equal-pay act that organized labor and women's groups championed.
Unions have been lobbying the Obama administration to repeal scores of executive orders they view as hostile to their cause. Officials gave administration officials their top 10 executive orders they wanted to see dismantled quickly.
Many executive orders are enacted and repealed based on which party controls the White House. One of the rules Mr. Obama planned to repeal Friday was approved by President George. H.W. Bush, removed by President Bill Clinton and reinstated by the second President George Bush.
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Banks are not loaning money they are keeping it and using it for bonuses and worse credit card companies laying off workers and raising interest rates to ridiculous amounts that no one can even afford.
well I am not paying for anyone''s 50 million dollard jet or 35,000 toilet seat when I can''t even afford to feed my own kids and I still have a job for the meantime thankfully.
This country needs to send out the checks to the american people in order to survive. don''t blame the middle class for saving their money because in relaity we are not saving money we are using it to survive and pay bills and feed our kids.
We are not saving money because we are afraid to spend it its because we have to use our money to survive in these high priced times of food, gas, etc.
So when you think your lousy $20.00 a week extra will help it may or may not, in my case not much help at all.
The gov should provide small business with bail-out loans that are required to be paid back and stop this non-sense of big company bail-outs with no strngs attached.
Posted by mr_2258 at 01:20 PM : Jan 30, 2009
Liar. Gallup has him at 70% approval. You like lying don''t you? You pop up on all these links trying to spout rubbish that has nothing to do with the topic.
Any way lets not forget your chimp who managed to squander a 90% rating after 9/11 down to what 18% on departure
You got a problem with that? If you do, don''t join a union. Simple. Now lets move on.
Paying off credit debts will help and contribute to 30% of funding employment.
Saving and investing more will help and contribute to 50% of funding employment.
Spending will help contribute only about 20% toward funding employment.
A saver and investor offers the same employment power as a spender and debt payer combined.
About 9-18 months is required to permit average debtors currently employed to pay off their debts.
Saving and investing while the economy is low, is what will offer the best profit for wise investment choices.
In 1980, President Reagan lifted the ban on Arab Investors in return for lower oil prices. They bought into our low economy 29 years ago, and the discounted oil revenues were offset by profits in our stock market.
The choice of which foriegn investors will finance our economic recovery is not popular with everyone, becuase some haven''t accepted our need to share, but welcome to global economics.
Posted by ROTFLMMFAO at 12:19 PM : Feb 01, 2009.....all they are doing is loading the pockets of the lobbyists with that spending.....it will not benefit the people...you are blind ..the people have to have money to spend to keep the economy running If all the money circulates within corporate America,,,,,,WHO IS GOING TO BUY THEIR GOODS? How can people with no money buy anything,,,,,,Maybe someday soon this crisis will hit home with YOU,,,,,,,I would almost bet you are wealthy and don''t really care what happens to the middle class.
Posted by Hakori at 11:45 AM : Feb 01, 2009.............that would mean not taxing the middle class,,,and collecting from CONGRESS whose members apparently DON''T pay taxes,,,,and All the people on Wall street and the banks...who have walked away from all this mess with BILLIONS,,,,,,, something is awfully wrong when those who do not pay taxes...get billions of tax dollars handed to them...because they were failures,,,,and those they cheated and failed ...will pay taxes for generations to pay for,,,,,,Washington is walking a fine line right now on very shaky ground,,,,,,How far can they push the people before they revolt?
Federal spending to stimulate the economy is a well established economic principle.
Republican don''''t want to support anything that might help our current crisis. Like their patron saint Rush Limbaugh, they want President Obama and the nation to fail. When things do turn around, President Obama and the Democratic Party will deservedly receive all the credit.
Posted by ROTFLMMFAO at 11:59 AM : Feb 01, 2009........................sure it is just like trickle down and any other government program,,,they do not directly benefit the people,,,,,,What turn around do you really think we will have if the middle class is destroyed?
Posted by Hakori at 11:43 AM : Feb 01, 2009..........before you are so quick to defend the democrats.......look at their version of the bailouts....a barrel full of pork.I think YOU totally missed what like itis5050 was trying to get you to see......ALL politicians from BOTH parties are corrupt...NOT just the republicans......what makes you think EITHER parties bailouts are better than the others?....both bailouts are Robbery of the taxpayers money that do nothing for the people ...ONLY CORPORATE INTERESTS WILL BENEFIT...them and the white collar, suit and tie terrorists that occupy capitol hill...They are ALL committing TREASON.