Obama’s Jobs Plan Includes Renovations for Community Colleges
President Obama proposed a new plan to stimulate the economy through job growth in front of a joint session of Congress last evening. The price tag associated with the package is a projected $447 billion, all of which would be paid for as part of the president's long-term deficit reduction plan.
While the President only made a small reference to higher education, including a pitch for college access, his proposal includes $5 billion for infrastructure at community colleges.
Obama's proposal also includes a $100 billion plan to modernize at least 35,000 public primary schools.
The proposed package, the American Jobs Act (AJA), combines tax relief, modernization efforts, and options for the unemployed. Specifically, the AJA's main provisions include:
- Providing tax cuts to help America's small businesses hire and grow
- Putting workers back on the job while rebuilding and modernizing America
- Create pathways back to work for Americans looking for jobs
- Provide tax relief for every American worker and family
The president will ask for the Super Committee to come up with additional funds in deficit reduction to pay for the AJA. The Super Committee will hold its first meeting this week and is required to come up with $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction, or else automatic across-the-board spending cuts will be enacted.
It remains uncertain whether both political parties can muster enough support to pass Obama's plan. In an attempt to garner more Republican support, Obama reminded Republican lawmakers that they have supported many of the same proposals in the past.