Pres. McEntee Calls for Congress to Pass Pres. Obama’s Jobs Agenda

President Obama gives the State of the Union address to Congress (Photo: Melina Mara, The Washington Post)

In his State of the Union address to Congress last night, President Obama laid out a plan to spur job growth and help working families by asking every American to pay their fair share.

“Now, you can call this class warfare all you want,” said Obama, “but asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.”

The President mentioned the so-called “Buffet Rule” as one of the reforms to the tax code that are necessary to invest in our nation’s future, pay down the debt and protect working families.

“The choices Congress makes in 2012 will determine whether we save the middle class,” said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after the State of the Union address. “We can do that by enacting President Obama’s jobs agenda. Or we can focus on misguided policies that do nothing but give more tax breaks to Wall Street fianciers and transfer even more wealth to those at the top of the economic ladder.”

Ind. Gov. Mitch Daniels was chosen to give the Republican reponse to the State of the Union, even as he and his legislative allies’ push for right-to-work-for-less legislation. This illustrates the stark contrast between President Obama’s solutions to get Americans back to work and the same, old, ALEC-inspired plans offered up by Daniels and his ilk.

News You Can Use

WI: Wisconsin Governor Fights Recall with Out-of-State Cash
Associated Press, 01/24/12

MI: Business, union leaders testify for, against labor reform bills
Karen Bouffard, Detroit News, 01/24/12

Romney tax returns highlight tax code’s breaks for rich
Ralph Vartabedian, Tom Hamburger and Matea Gold, LA Times, 01/24/12

MN: Occupy MN Protesters Have Message For Legislators As Session Starts
Michael McIntee, The Uptake, 01/24/12

OH: After Labor Law Defeat, Ohio’s Kasich Pushes Forward
Karen Kasler, NPR News/Ohio Public Radio, 01/24/12