Labor & Employment Law

Union Movement, Business Back Obama?s Call for Infrastructure Rebuild and Other SOTU Reactions

By Mike Hall

Today, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue issued a rare joint statement supporting “Obama’s call to create jobs and grow the U.S. economy through investment in our nation’s infrastructure.” Trumka and Donohue said:

Whether it is building roads, bridges, high-speed broadband, energy systems and schools, these projects not only create jobs and demand for businesses, they are an investment in building the modern infrastructure our country needs to compete in a global economy.

With the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO standing together to support job creation, we hope that Democrats and Republicans in Congress will also join together to build America’s infrastructure.

Last night, Trumka said that many of the economic plans President Obama outlined in his State of the Union message showed he ?was heading in the right direction? to restoring the health of the economy and the middle class.

Here are some other reactions. Click here to read Trumka?s full statement.

Obama?s call to rebuild the nation?s infrastructure?which Obama described as at the core of ?winning the future??upped the ante in the debate about investing in the nation?s crumbling transportation system and infrastructure, says AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) President Edward C. Wytkind.

President Obama is in complete agreement with transportation labor in saying that America can no longer afford to fall behind China?with its “faster trains and newer airports”?and the rest of the world in investing in the movement of people, goods and information. He said our infrastructure used to be the best?”but our lead has slipped.” And he talked about the need to “redouble” our efforts to use strategically significant investments to create good jobs. Needless to say, we agree.

Scott Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), says Obama?s focus on innovation, infrastructure and education, as well as his commitment to create the jobs of the future, is the right path. Obama said it?s time for the same kind American innovation that was launched after the Soviet Union beat the United States into space with Sputnik, but the United States eventually won the space race. Says Paul:

This is, indeed, a new Sputnik moment for America, as we have argued. But 50 years ago, America had a trade surplus, a healthy manufacturing base and virtually no global business competition. Our challenge today is as much about rebuilding as it is about innovating.

Obama also called for a long-term investment in children and schools. AFT President Randi Weingarten says those investments ?are essential to strengthen our nation, maintain a healthy democracy and help future generations succeed.?

While making these critical investments in our future, we also have to protect those who are less fortunate and support those who are struggling mightily to lead a middle-class life, stay healthy, send their children to college and retire with dignity.

In his call his call for improving the nation?s education system, Obama pointed to students ?excelling in our schools who are not American citizens.?

Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet live every day with the threat of deportation.

Let?s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses and further enrich this nation.

He also called for comprehensive immigration reform and said he was prepared to ?to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows.?

The president also urged bipartisanship in strengthening Social Security,

without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans? guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who delivered the Republican response, has a far different message on Social Security in his so-called ?Road Map for America?s Future.? The Ryan road map calls for cuts in Social Security, raising the retirement age and privatization. In his response, Ryan ducked the Social Security question, but he outlined what the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) called ?fear mongering politics of the national debt.?

Bill Merrow (see video above), an Alliance for Retired Americans member from West Deering, N.H., watched Ryan?s response at one of the Alliance?s 46 State of the Union watch parties in 21 states last night. He said Ryan “seemed to have the same old mantra.”

It?s the same lies and B.S. that it seems like the Republicans have been going with all along. They don?t see what it?s going to do to the people, the average people.

EPI said the two speeches offered ?quite a contrast of visions for balancing economic recovery and fiscal responsibility.?

We have tried the path of cutting taxes for the wealthy, deregulating the economy and underfunding key long-term investments?all while running up deficits?as Paul Ryan has proposed; it led to economic meltdown and massive job losses. It is time for a new path that balances job creation, new public investments and long-term fiscal responsibility.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on January 26, 2011 (boomark / email).