Cantor: American Jobs Act Is DOA

By Andrea Salazar

President Obama’s $447 billion jobs bill, as a package, is dead. 

That according to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who said Monday at his weekly briefing that the president’s “all or nothing approach is just unacceptable.”

Elements of that jobs bill are on the table, though. The House, over the next month, will pass bills to help small business owners, to make the 3 percent withholding provision permanent and to make free-trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, Cantor said.

“We’ve seen enough of the divide,” he said. “And that’s why I say that if nothing else, we should certainly focus on trying to put some wins on the board, stop magnifying the differences [and] try and focus on the commonalities.”

While emphasizing the need for Republicans and Democrats to work together, Cantor also pointed out that “we’ve got a terrible environment for entrepreneurs” and called for less government regulation on businesses. 

“Our country is being paralyzed by Washington over-regulation and a Washington-knows-best mentality coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,” the majority leader said.

The president, however, still expects Congress to pass his jobs bill.

“It’s been several weeks now since I sent up the American Jobs Act and, as I’ve been saying on the road, I want it back. I’m ready to sign it,” Obama said on Monday morning.

Obama Unveils No Child Left Behind Changes

President Obama today officially announced new changes to the national No Child Left Behind education law that will allow states to bypass a critical requirement that threatened to deny them federal funding down the road.

In a roughly 15-minute speech at the White House, Obama explained that due to congressional inaction, he decided to act unilaterally.

“I’ve urged Congress for awhile now — let’s get a bipartisan effort and let’s fix this. Congress hasn’t been able to do it. So, I will.”

The most significant of the NCLB reforms unveiled by the president involves granting waivers to lieberate states from a requirement that all students be proficient in reading and math by 2014. That mandate was tied heavily to federal funding, and allowing it to take effect would have put nearly every state in financial jeopardy.

However, in exchange for providing states with “flexibility” to dodge that requirement, states must show that they are implementing high educational standards of their own.

“This does not mean that states will be able to lower their standards or escape accountability,” Obama said. “If states want more flexibility, they’re gonna have to set higher standards, more honest standards.”

Already, 44 states and the District of Columbia “have adopted a common set of State- developed college- and career-ready standards,” according to the White House.

(Click here to read the White House’s summary of the reforms to NCLB).

In addition to transforming classroom standards for students, states must also remodel their methods of evaluating teachers and principals in order to qualify for relief from the law.

“We can’t afford to wait for an education system that is not doing everything it needs to do for our kids,” Obama said. “We can’t let another generation of young people fall behind.”

Obama Attempts To Bridge Support For Jobs Package

With the “functionally obsolete” Brent Spence Bridge at his back, President Obama challenged Republican leaders in Congress to approve his jobs bill that includes over $100 billion for new infrastructure projects and repairs.

Obama admitted that one of the reasons he chose the bridge — which connects Ohio to Kentucky — as his backdrop for today’s pitch, is because of its geographical ties to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

“[They] are the two most powerful Republicans in government,” he said. “They can either kill this jobs bill, or they can help us pass it.”

Though the president’s $447 billion plan covers a number of areas — including tax cuts and credits, broadband investment and mortgage refinancing for homeowners — it’s the funding reserved for infrastructure projects he focused on today. Obama urged lawmakers to quit squabbling over the need to reign in spending, and approve $50 billion worth of transportation funding included in the bill.

“If you want construction workers rebuilding bridges like this one,” he said, “pass this jobs bill.”

Ohio, in particular, would stand to receive just over $1 billion for highway and transportation projects. The White House says the money would create nearly 14,000 jobs in the Buckeye State, which is plagued by a 9 percent unemployment rate.

Obama argued that aside from the bridge behind him, there are numerous other area transit routes in need of repair.

“I can’t imagine that the Speaker wants to represent a state where nearly one in four bridges is classified as substandard,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Boehner thanked the president for bringing attention to the Brent Spence Bridge, which lies in a district that neighbors the one he represents.

“I know how important the Brent Spence Bridge is to our region,” he said. “I’ve long supported replacing the bridge, and I’m pleased the president is bringing attention to this much-needed project.”

However, Boehner complained that the president’s plan does not put enough emphasis on undoing regulations, which he said are hurting businesses in his state. Boehner also decried Obama’s plan to pay for the bill in part by raising taxes on those earning more than $250,000 per year.

“His plan, in my opinion, will destroy jobs by raising taxes on small businesses and our capital, the key ingredient, I think for job creation in our country.”

Yet, Obama stood by his pay-for proposal, arguing that it appropriately prioritizes a struggling middle class in need of help.

“The Republicans in Congress,” he said, “call this class warfare. Well you know what? If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as plumber or teacher makes me a warrior for the middle class, I’ll wear that charge as a badge of honor.”

White House Answers Latta Request With Veto Threat

By Mikey Hothi

In a letter to President, Rep. Robert Latta (R-Ohio) urged Obama to support his amednment to the TRAIN Act, a measure that would ensure the EPA considers economic effects when updating air quality standards.

On September 2, President Obama asked EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to withdraw a draft of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which requires the EPA to set standards for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment, saying the uncertainty in regulations could have a negative impact on the economy.

The TRAIN Act is expected to be considered on the House floor this week and Latta believes that, with the inclusion of his amendment, the bill will receive bipartisan support because of its potential impact on job creation.

“[I] agree that the economy should be considered when implementing regulations and standards with such far reaching effects,” Latta said.

Despite Latta’s confidence, the White House issued a statement threatening to veto the TRAIN Act, saying the bill would undermine two landmark regulations under the Clean Air Act aimed at reducing public exposure to harmful pollutants. 

“While the Administration strongly supports careful analysis of the economic effects of regulation, the approach taken in [the TRAIN Act] would slow or undermine important public health protections,” the stamement reads. “If the President is presented with H.R. 2401, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.”

Obama At UN: Peace Is Hard

Today, at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama addressed a packed crowd of the world’s highest level dignitaries from countries including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Sudan, France and Iran.

“I would like to talk to you about an issue which is at the heart of the United Nations; the pursuit of peace in an imperfect world. A lasting peace for nations and individuals depends on a sense of justice and opportunity. It depends on struggle, sacrifice and compromise.”

Amidst widespread criticism of his current policies regarding Israel, Obama stood firm on the United States’ position in regards to Palestinian statehood. 

“The lesson of Ireland and Sudan will be the path to a Palestinian state. Negotiations between the two parties,” he said. “America has invested so much time and effort in a building of a Palestinian state. But understand this as well, America’s friendship with Israel is deep and enduring. We must commit to Israel’s security. Let us be honest with ourselves. Israel is small country of eight million people where leaders of much larger nations threaten to wipe it off the map. Those are facts and they cannot be denied. Israel deserves recognition. That is the truth. Each side has legitimate aspirations. The deadlock will only be broken when each side learns to stand in the other’s shoes and see the world in each other’s eyes.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will call on the UN General Assembly to vote in support of a separate Palestinian state at the end of the week. He is expected to win the two-thirds majority of 129 votes needed within the General Assembly. Nonetheless, Susan Rice, the US Ambassador for the United Nations has stated several times the US, which holds a permanent seat at the Security Council, would veto the request. The General Assembly vote is being viewed by many critics within the international community as a symbolic gesture more than a shift in policy relations with Palestine.

“One year ago, I stood at this podium and I called for an independent Palestine,” Obama said. “I believe then as I do now that Palestinians need a state of their own. But a genuine agreement needs to be made by Israelis and Palestinians themselves.”

The President highlighted his plan for a two-state solution which he announced in May of this year. He added he understood clearly the frustration by the lack of progress as expressed by the Palestinian government. 

“The question is not the goal that we seek. But how we reach that goal. I am convinced there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has lasted for decades. Peace is hard to come. It does not come from statements at the United Nations. Ultimately, peace depends on compromise and on people to live side by side.”

Obama also underscored his Administration’s achievements in setting a new direction with the world including the withdrawal of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He strongly criticized the Iranian and Syrian governments. He immediately called on the Security Council to impose sanctions on the Syrian government.

 “The fact is peace is hard. We still live in a world scarred by conflict.” 

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also stressed the importance of cooperation.  He canvassed the UN’s role as the world’s first emergency responder and the significant role the United Nations continues to play in maintaining peace in countries like Somalia, Sudan, Haiti and Cote d-Ivoire.

“This year, the UN peacekeeping budget will be over 8 billion dollars. To prevent violations of human rights, we must work for the rule of law and stand against impunity.  In the Middle East, we must break the stalemate. We have long agreed the Palestinians need  a state.”