President Barack Obama demanded immediate action in favor of a proposed jobs bill during an address to Congress Thursday evening.
The American Jobs Act is a $477 billion package that is intended to boost job growth and consumer spending in order to revitalize a stagnating economy.
In light of the media attention that has focused on the partisan politics surrounding the upcoming 2012 election, Obama demanded that Congress “stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy.”
The American Jobs Act proposes the creation of jobs for construction workers, teachers, veterans and the long-term unemployed, as well as the extension of unemployment benefits and the reduction of payroll taxes for employees and small businesses.
“It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled, and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services,” Obama said. “You should pass this jobs plan right away.”
Obama appealed to Republicans to support the bill by emphasizing a need to make life easier for job creators. The bill proposes tax cuts to small business owners who hire new workers or raise workers’ wages.
Other aspects of the bill include rebuilding broken infrastructure, modernizing at least 35,000 schools and reforming healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Though Obama appealed to both Democrats and Republicans throughout the address, his tone demanded immediate action in favor of the bill.
After asking Congress members rhetorically whether they should keep tax breaks for billionaires or put teachers back to work, the president indicated there was little room for compromise.
“This isn’t political grandstanding. This isn’t class warfare. This is simple math,” he said.