WASHINGTON — The White House on Wednesday said President Barack Obama would unveil fresh ideas to jump-start the economy and cut deficits, but details offered so far appeared to be a compilation of old proposals.
Obama faces serious doubts among Americans about his economic leadership and
is now trying to convince skeptical voters and Wall Street that he has a workable plan to keep the United States from dipping back into recession. Obama faces serious doubts among Americans about his economic leadership and
The White House said Obama will give a speech after the September 5 Labor Day holiday to outline measures to boost hiri ng and find budget savings that surpass the $1.5 trillion goal of a new congressional deficit-cutting committee.
According to senior administration officials, Obama will renew his call for Congress to extend a payroll tax cut — a measure the White House says would encourage business to increase hiring but that economists say is likely to make little difference to an economy that is struggling.
The officials said Obama's plan also includes new ideas to accelerate job growth in the short term. The national unemployment rate is stuck above 9 percent, a major impediment to Obama's chances for re-election next year.
The official also said the growth package would include a mix of tax cuts and infrastructure spending as well as some measure targeted at the long-term unemployed. That would likely be a training and education plan.
Obama, who has been criticized in recent weeks by political opponents, allies on the left and Wall Street for repackaging old job-growth ideas, will be under pressure to say something new.
White House officials said no final decisions have been made on what Obama would include in his September speech.
'Drop it in the mail'
"We really don't need another speech — just a plan, like, on paper," said Brendan Buck, spokesman for House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, on Twitter. "Seriously, just drop it in the mail. Podium not required."
Boehner is the top Republican in Congress.
White House Communications Director Dan Pffeifer said on Twitter the September package would include "meaningful, new initiatives to grow the economy and create jobs" and will also push Congress to act. He gave no details.
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