Last night, President Obama gave a major speech on jobs and the economy before Congress, in which he outlined a new jobs plan. It's rare for a president to address Congress in situations other than the annual State of the Union address, but this speech was a response to stagnant job growth and a U.S. economy that is struggling to recover from recession.
The jobs plan President Obama outlined in his speech is called the American Jobs Bill. It includes $450 billion in government spending, about half of which is tax cuts and the other half of which is spending on infrastructure like construction and repair projects for schools, roads and government buildings.
The president had to find a proposal that had a chance of passing both houses of Congress at a time when Democrats and Republicans are sharply divided on how to address the country's economic problems. He insisted in his speech that the proposal is bi-partisan and should appeal to everyone; however, some lawmakers have expressed uncertainty about the bill and its passage is not guaranteed.
Quotes
"The American Jobs Act will repair and modernize at least 35,000 schools. It will put people to work right now fixing roofs and windows; installing science labs and high-speed internet in classrooms all across this country. It will rehabilitate homes and businesses in communities hit hardest by foreclosures. It will jumpstart thousands of transportation projects across the country." - President Barack Obama
"The next election is fourteen months away. And the people who sent us here - the people who hired us to work for them - they don't have the luxury of waiting fourteen months. Some of them are living week to week; paycheck to paycheck; even day to day. They need help, and they need it now." - President Barack Obama
Warm Up Questions
1. Why do presidents give speeches?
2. What is a recession? What are its effects?
3. How does a high unemployment rate hurt the economy?
Discussion Questions
1. Describe President Obama's overall tone in this speech, in one word. Why do you think he chose to deliver the speech this way?
2. Do you think the jobs plan President Obama outlines is a good one? Why or why not?
3. President Obama talks about the election playing a role in passing a jobs bill. Why is the election a factor in this? Why might lawmakers be hesitant to vote on a controversial piece of legislation right before an election?
Additional Resources
