Obama Visits Plant Where Stimulus Saved Jobs

President Barack Obama told manufacturers in Wisconsin on Monday that his Recovery Act helped save some of their jobs, and will allow their company to expand in the months to come.

At ZBB Energy Corporation in Menomonee Falls, the President reiterated his commitment to lift the nation’s manufacturing industry out of the doldrums ushered in by the recession.

“Few parts of the economy were hit harder than manufacturing,” said Obama. “But what’s clear is that we are heading in the right direction.”

Indeed, unlike most of the private sector, manufacturing has slowly rebounded over the past eight months. 36,000 manufacturing jobs were added to the economy last month, bringing the total number of jobs added to 183,000 since last December.

The President’s trip to Wisconsin today, along with stops later on this week in Ohio, Washington and California, highlight his administration’s attempt to showcase the effect the stimulus package has had on the economy. It also coincides with Democrats’ efforts to promote their “Make it in America” strategy during the congressional recess.

ZBB, which produces advanced batteries for the purpose of renewable energy storage, plans to use $1.3 million worth of stimulus funds to add 80 new jobs in the state of Wisconsin.

“When new technologies are developed with the potential to unleash new businesses, and even whole new industries, I want those products to be made in America,” said Obama. “That’s how we’ll create jobs. That’s how we’ll strengthen this economy.”

Vilsack Touts Recovery Act Before Budget Committee

By Phillip Bunnell - Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack told the House Budget Committee that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) make strides in creating jobs and modernizing American agriculture.

Chair John Spratt, Jr. (D-SC) and Ranking Member Paul Ryan (R-WI) opened with contrasting messages concerning the Recovery Act. Spratt touted it as saving America from a far worse economic downturn and saving millions of jobs. 

Ryan called the act “a failure,” blaming it for increased national debt. 

“Proponents will tell us that we should all be grateful that the pain is not more acute, and that it’s not fair to hold policy makers accountable for the failures of their policies,” he said.

Secretary Vilsack emphasized that the Recovery Act “is doing good,” and was “a must,” saying that the “stimulus is successful.”  Vilsack said that the increased funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp program) produced $9.50 for every $5.00 invested by the USDA, and that the Recovery Act has allowed for expanded agricultural trade with Panama, South Korea, and Columbia.  Vilsack also said rural communities are receiving subsidies, water treatment facilities, and broadband Internet service, all of which help modernize and support the American farmer, are reaping the benefits of the extra funding.

Vilsack credited the Recovery Act for the recent growth in GDP, and countered Republican criticism of the high unemployment rate by stating that the stimulus had created “a sense of opportunity,” and that it had saved “millions of jobs.”

Recovery Act Saved Jobs And Boosted The Economy, Says Romer

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

Dr. Christina Romer, the White House’s chief economist, argued Wednesday that the Recovery Act is responsible for key improvements within the U.S. economy.

“The Recovery Act has increased real GDP, relatively to what it otherwise would have done, by between 2.7 and 3.2%,” Romer said during a conference call coinciding with the release of a report on the Act’s effectiveness. “It increased employment, relative to what otherwise would have happened, between 2.5 and 3.6 million.”

The Recovery Act was designed to boost economic growth and employment in the U.S. Republicans have chided the $787 billion stimulus package as too costly and unable to curb unemployment.

In Ohio, Obama Touts Merits Of Stimulus

By Robert Hune-Kalter
Talk Radio News Service

President Barrack Obama visited Columbus, Ohio on Friday to mark a milestone of the Recovery Act, which he signed into law over one year ago. Later this summer, the 10,000th road project funded by the law will commence in Columbus’s downtown district and, according to the administration, is expected to generate 300 jobs.

After touring the site of the project, Obama made brief remarks, comparing the planned road improvements to those two centuries earlier.

“Our first nationally funded highway, the National Road, was extended across Ohio, bringing a generation of settlers west to this new frontier, paving the way for the automobile that would transform our landscape,” he said.

Columbus small businesses figure to be big beneficiaries of the stimulus later this year. The administration says they will receive between $44 and $53 million worth of Recovery Act funds. In addition, eleven million dollars will be provided to them in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants.

“It is with that vision of a brighter future for this city and for the country that we begin this project, and I am looking forward to seeing all that you achieve in the years and months to come,” Obama added.

Congress Must Reauthorize Elementary And Secondary Education Act, Says Schools Chief

By Justine Rellosa
Talk Radio News Service

Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan stressed the importance of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) during a hearing Wednesday before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee.

"We want to create a fair system of accountability that instead of stigmatizing schools and educators, rewards them for [their] excellence. We want to focus on growth and gain rather than absolute test scores," said Duncan. "Rather than dictating one size fits all solutions, we want to give states and districts more flexibility to improve in the vast majority of schools."

According to a statement released by the Department of Education, the Act "would ask states to adopt college-and career-ready standards and reward schools for producing dramatic gains in student achievement."

During his appearance on Capitol Hill, Duncan also touted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) impact on aiding his department.

"The Recovery Act dollars given to the Department of Education helped save an estimated 400,000 jobs at the state and local levels," he said.