Jobs bill: A chance for bipartisanship or election strategy?
Author: Ed Hornick, CNN
By: Adam Levinson
Summary:
With the unemployment rate still at a high number, the Democrats are trying to create a plan to help. The Senate majority is hoping for a bipartisan bill to be passed by Presidents’ Day. Included in the Democratic bill is to renew highway legislation for a year, which could create up to 1 million jobs. Another part of the bill would give small businesses tax credits as well as job creation tax credits. Republicans are willing to support the bill, but some are a bit hesitant because of all the money that it proposes to be spent on the creation of jobs. The Republicans are concerned, because this is an election year, that if they don’t support the bill, then people won’t reelect their parties’ representatives.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/09/jobs.bill.politics/index.html
How My Article Relates to Social Studies:
Taft, like the Senate majority, urged American bankers to invest in Latin America. Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy policy encouraged building strong economical ties to Latin America by improving their roads, railroads, and harbors, which would benefit the United States financially. The job bill wants to create jobs through construction projects that would benefit each state.
Questions:
1. Do you think the job bill will have a significant effect on the economy? Why or Why Not?
2. Do you think the Republicans not supporting the bill will effect the upcoming November election? Why or Why Not?
3. Do you think Obama having to play “hardball” will change Republican’s minds about supporting the bill? Explain your answer.
My Answers:
1. I think the job bill will not have a significant effect on the economy, but will not hurt it. The bill proposes creating projects that will make jobs, therefore, people who are unemployed will have more opportunities, but I don’t think this is what will be the answer to all of the problems.
2. I think the Republicans not supporting the bill will effect the upcoming November election. People may think that they won’t want to do things to help the situation if the economy is still a problem at election time.
3. I think that Obama playing hardball will change the Republican’s minds about supporting the bill. If Obama makes a good offer, then the Republicans will probably want to take it because they will be worried about not winning in the election.
Comments (5)
Philip C. said
at 8:38 pm on Feb 11, 2010
1. The bill is a nice idea, but we had to wait on how the economy will turn out. But since it creates a lot of jobs, I think that it will help improve the economy.
2. If the Republicans do not support the bill, then some supporters will switch side because they are people in need of jobs or anything else. Technically the Republicans need the majority of people in order to win the election.
3. Well it depends on how hard/ aggressive will Obama will play. If he could get the ideas to the Republicans, then the bill will pass.
Edward T said
at 2:19 pm on Feb 12, 2010
I do think that the job bill will have a significant effect on the economy. if there are more jobs, more people will be making money and spending it meaning that there will be more money to go around. it will not revive the economy by itself but it may get it going again.
2. If the Republicans do not support the bill, than they will risk losing a lot of voters and therefore influence.
3. If Obama is able to play hardball with the republicans then he will be able to use the majority to pass the bill.
Danny U. said
at 8:10 am on Feb 15, 2010
1. I think the job bill will have a significant effect on the economy. I think this because it will create a lot of great jobs for people who don't have any. The economy will boom upward if the job bill is passed by the senate.
2. If the Republicans in senate don't pass the job law, then some voters may switch votes for Democrats. So, the Republicans are probably going to pass the new bill so some voters stay on their side of the vote in November.
3. I think that if Obama does try to play hardball with the Republicans, then they will give in because they want votes in November. With a good offer, the Republicans will surely change their minds.
Jack A said
at 3:50 pm on Feb 16, 2010
1. I think it will have a small impact on the economy. It will create jobs for people with no jobs but it will not save the whole economic system.
2. If the Republicans don't support the bill, they will lose quite a few voters and lose some of their power as a cause of it.
3. I think the Republicans will give in because they do not want to risk losing the November elections and if there is a good offer, they should take it.
Jack B said
at 7:14 pm on Feb 17, 2010
Yes, I think it will have a huge impact on our economy. Because it will open new jobs for men and women, and kids starting on making a career before they find a better paid job.
I believe that if the republican senators don’t pass this law then when it comes time to the elections people are going to want democrats so they can pass this bill and more people can have jobs.
I think by Obama playing Hardball, it will make the Republicans worry and force them to pass the law so it doesn’t hurt their chances in the election.
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