[President Obama] Hello everybody, right now theres nothing more important
than getting the economy moving and putting Americans back to work. Thats why I sent
Congress the American Jobs Act, a bill that independent economists have said would grow
the economy and lead to nearly two million jobs over the next few years. Last night a
majority of United States Senators voted to advance this jobs bill. But even though the
American Jobs Act contains the kind of proposals Republicans have supported in the past their
party used Senate maneuvers to block this jobs bill from moving forward.
They said no to more jobs for teachers, no
to more jobs for cops and firefighters, no to more jobs for construction workers and
veterans, no to tax cuts for small business owners and middle class Americans. Now a lot
of folks in Washington and the media will look at last nights vote and say, Well
thats it, the bill is dead. Lets move on to the next fight. Ive got news
for them: not this time.
Not with so many Americans out of work not with so many families struggling to get ahead.
I will not take no for an answer and I hope you wont either.
This fight will go on. In the coming days
we will force members of Congress to vote on the individual proposals in the American
Jobs Act. Theyll have a chance to vote on whether they believe we should keep teachers
out of work or whether we should put them back in the classroom where they belong. Theyll
get to vote on whether they believe construction workers should stay unemployed while our roads
and bridges fall apart. Or whether we should put these men and women back to work rebuilding
America.
Theyll be forced to decide whether we should cut taxes for middle class Americans
or let them go up next year. In fact thats exactly what one of the leading Republican
Presidential candidates suggested we do during last nights debate: allow taxes to rise
by up to a thousand dollars next year for struggling middle class families. Thats
not how you build an economy where middle class families can get ahead. Thats not
how we put people to work. And we dont have to except that future. I certainly wont.
Last night I had a chance to sit down and
have a beer with some construction workers in Orlando, Florida. These are the people
this fight is about: proud Americans who want the chance to work hard and get ahead.
There are construction projects all across this country that they could be working on
right now. The only thing standing in their way is this Congress. We can change this.
We have to change this but its up to you.
Already so many of you have done so much to fight for this jobs bill, and I want to thank
you for that. But now we need to push even harder. Its your voice that will make
a difference to those Senators and Congressmen. Youre their boss and only you can make
them do their jobs. So if you want action on jobs make yourself heard: make a call,
write a letter, send an email just dont give up. After all were Americans and
we dont quit. We stand up for what we believe in and we get through the tough times
together.
With your help we can do that right now. We can put people back to work. Give this economy
the jolt that it needs and start building an America with a growing, thriving middle
class. So lets get busy. Thanks.