Obama urges ‘steps’ after election, calls GOP stance ‘troubling’
President Obama urged
Republicans and Democrats to work together to solve the nation’s
economic issues regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s midterm
elections.
In his weekly address Saturday, Obama called recent comments made by two Republican leaders “troubling.”
{mosads}He pointed out comments made by House Minority
Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who said this week that “this is not the
time for compromise.”
Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who said this week that “this is not the
time for compromise.”
He also mentioned a
statement made by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that
“his main goal after this election is simply to win the next one.”
statement made by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that
“his main goal after this election is simply to win the next one.”
Obama chalked up the comments to heated rhetoric in
the final days of a campaign that could see the leadership change in
one chamber of Congress.
the final days of a campaign that could see the leadership change in
one chamber of Congress.
“Whatever the
outcome on Tuesday, we need to come together to help put people who are
still looking for jobs back to work,” Obama said.
outcome on Tuesday, we need to come together to help put people who are
still looking for jobs back to work,” Obama said.
Obama suggested taking “practical steps we can take
right away to promote growth and encourage businesses to hire and
expand” including tax breaks for middle-class families and investing in
infrastructure.
right away to promote growth and encourage businesses to hire and
expand” including tax breaks for middle-class families and investing in
infrastructure.
“These are steps we all should be able to agree on,
not Democratic or Republican ideas, but proposals that have
traditionally been supported by both parties,” he said.
not Democratic or Republican ideas, but proposals that have
traditionally been supported by both parties,” he said.
He said he’s concerned that Republicans and Democrats will spend the
“next two years arguing with one another, trapped in stale debates,
mired in gridlock, unable to make progress in solving the serious
problems facing our country.”
“next two years arguing with one another, trapped in stale debates,
mired in gridlock, unable to make progress in solving the serious
problems facing our country.”
Once again he pushed for an extension of Bush-era
tax cuts for middle-class families “who have borne the brunt of the
recession.”
tax cuts for middle-class families “who have borne the brunt of the
recession.”
He also urged lawmakers to
provide move forward on proposals that would let businesses defer taxes
on the equipment they buy next year and increase and make permanent the
research and experimentation tax credit, “to spur
innovation and foster new products and technologies.”
In the long term, educational opportunities should be
made readily available to young people so the U.S. can “remain
competitive and prosperous in a global economy. “
made readily available to young people so the U.S. can “remain
competitive and prosperous in a global economy. “
He also stressed the need for new infrastructure such as high-speed rail and high-speed Internet.
“That means fostering a climate of innovation and
entrepreneurship that will allow American businesses and American
workers to lead in growth industries like clean energy,” he said.
entrepreneurship that will allow American businesses and American
workers to lead in growth industries like clean energy,” he said.
“On
these issues I believe it’s the fundamental responsibility of all who
hold elective office to seek out common ground,” he said. “It may not
always be easy to find agreement; at times we’ll have legitimate
philosophical differences. And it may not always be the best politics.
But it is the right thing to do for our country.”
these issues I believe it’s the fundamental responsibility of all who
hold elective office to seek out common ground,” he said. “It may not
always be easy to find agreement; at times we’ll have legitimate
philosophical differences. And it may not always be the best politics.
But it is the right thing to do for our country.”
