Updated 09/09/2011 05:39 PM
North Carolinians react to President Obama's job plan
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RALEIGH – After hearing President Obama's $450 billion job plan, some unemployed workers and small business owners are left with questions. With the state's unemployment rate increasing to 10.1 percent in July, some North Carolinians said the American Jobs Act may not be the best solution.
Over the past year, Rick Cavallaro's brought about a half-a-dozen new workers into his company, Afex, which makes fire protection equipment for large trucks.
"Anytime we advertise a position, we're going to get 100 applications at least," explained Cavallaro.
Cavallaro doesn't feel offering tax credits to hire those out of work more than six months and unemployed and wounded veterans is the ideal solution.
"We're always looking to get the best employee for the job,” reflected Cavallaro. “It seems a little odd to me that the government wants to limit your labor pool to a certain group of individuals."
Gregg Thompson, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, explained the president's proposal could help, but first small businesses need consumer confidence to return.
"The tax credit that's being offered by the government is not going to give me the confidence enough to hire that person because I am going to be stuck with all this inventory and a new employee without people buying," said Thompson.
Some job seekers like Denise Long, who spent Friday submitting applications at the Employment Security Commission, said the president's job plan sounds appealing but they want to see immediate results.
"It's just going to take time but some people don't have time," expressed Long.
With so many people out of work, Gov. Bev Perdue offered her support to any kind of package that gets North Carolinians back to work.
"That will put some money on the street for small businesses. That will continue to hire teachers and first responders and that will invest in small businesses around America," said Perdue.
“I fully intend to consider all of the suggestions the President laid out in his speech tonight before Congress. Those that achieve the threshold of stability and predictability businesses have insisted they need to invest in job creation will live for a more extensive debate in Congress. Those that are just a repackaged temporary program should be and will be discarded. This is not about how much Washington can spend, but how we create a common-sense partnership with businesses to grow our economy.
“The best thing Washington can do for our economy is to cut through the red tape that is hampering innovation and reform the punitive tax code that is stifling job growth.”
“With ten percent unemployment in North Carolina, jobs are priorities one, two and three for me,” said Hagan. “As we tackle the jobs crisis, it is imperative that we focus on practical solutions that will gain bipartisan support and actually reach the President’s desk. Washington-as-usual bickering and political posturing won’t create a single new job, won’t pay the bills for families and seniors trying to make ends meet, and won’t give small business owners the confidence and certainty they need to grow their companies and hire their fellow Americans.
“Tonight, the President spoke about updating our decades-old infrastructure while creating jobs for many unemployed men and women. I agree. An extension of the payroll tax cut would also put money in families’ wallets at a time when every penny counts.
“The President also spoke tonight about one of my top priorities - ensuring our brave veterans have jobs back at home after they spend time fighting to protect us. I will continue to work to pass my Hire a Hero Act that will provide tax credits to employers who hire National Guard and Reservists and make this credit permanent for veterans.
“One idea the President didn’t mention that also warrants consideration is a well-crafted, temporary reduction in the taxes American businesses pay on overseas earnings. That could trigger the flow of trillions of dollars back into our economy when we need it most.
“Bottom line: we need to be bold, creative and bipartisan. And we need to act now. The status quo is unacceptable.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol to enact meaningful job creation legislation.”
“The president's plan addresses some critical issues, like tax relief for small businesses, but there’s still some key messages Washington needs to send in order for business to invest capital and start hiring again. One major need that remains is cutting red tape and instilling a culture of certainty in the regulatory and labor arenas. The federal government can do little to create jobs in and of itself, but in one of the toughest downturns this country's probably ever faced, they need to send the right signals to the private sector,” said Lew Ebert, President and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber. “The president’s jobs plan is a starting point.”
“Americans are hurting and the President knows it’s time to put the middle class and the country first, stated AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee. "The President gets it, the suffering our members see on the frontlines of public service is real, and if the partisan response is the same old posturing about regulations, deficits and taxes, we’ll know they don’t.
“President Obama has taken a bold step toward creating jobs immediately, improving the economy, investing in infrastructure and putting America back to work. Rather than fold their arms and stomp their feet in opposition, it’s time for Republican leaders in Congress to put tea-based politics aside and do what’s right for the country.
“The President made fighting for jobs, the middle class and working families his number one priority tonight. He realizes that economic recovery is dependent upon both public and private sector growth and closing the Texas-sized tax loopholes to make Wall Street fat-cats pay their fair share is better than laying off nurses, teachers and firefighters.
“For the first time in 60 years, we saw zero job growth last month because tiny gains in the private sector were canceled out by 17,000 job losses in the public sector. Congressional Republicans need to put aside political differences and begin the real work of the nation; but if they want a fight, bring it on. It’s worth fighting to end unemployment lines and putting people back to work. The American Jobs Act will have an immediate impact on job creation and will help grow the economy now. Now is the time to stop the petty posturing and pandering to extremists and work with the President to pursue a jobs agenda for all Americans."