Mr. President, Where's the Bill?

Mr. Obama repeatedly mentioned his proposed "American Jobs Act." He was telling about all these magical, wonderful things that were in the "American Jobs Act."

I'd like to read the bill before I call my Congress Critter one way or the other.

During the speech, a Google search for the phrase "American Jobs Act" on the whitehouse.gov website. Returned no results at all. By the end of the speech, it returned a single link to a page with a live video feed of some kind. I watched for a bit and am listening to it in the background. So far, I haven't heard anything that Congress can vote on.

The unemployed are more likely to get a job than someone who is busting their butt at a get by job until they can find better.

Not really. There's a HUGE backlash against the "long term unemployed" who have been on unemployment for 99 weeks (or longer..)

Many hiring managers have told their HR folks or recruiters that they don't even want to SEE resume's of those who've been out of work two years. In many cases, they don't want to see resume's of those who've been out of work more than three months.

The thought being that those who are still working are considered the 'cream of the crop' and therefore the most desireable hires.

A $4k "tax credit" isn't going to change that. You are in a far better position in a "get by" job than being unemployed. While you may not be working in your field, you've shown the drive and initiative to do what it takes, which makes you far more likely to get a job than someone who's been unemployed for a long time.

That's just the way it is right now. I know plenty of hiring managers, HR folks and technical recruiters who've all told me what I stated above.

Mike Darancette wrote:

Boehner should announce that he'll put it up for a vote no sooner than 72 hours after the White House publishes the bill..

White House does not publish a bill.

I understand that.

The "normal" process for an administration that wants to show leadership is that they write a bill (often with input from some Representatives and Senators) and take that bill to a Representative and a Senator (sometimes more than one of each) to sponsor the legislation. The bill then goes in "the hopper" and proceeds much like any other bill.

My point is that Mr. Boehner missed a big opportunity last night. He could have taken his microphone, at the end of the speech last night, and said this:

Remarks Speaker Boehner should have made last night:
“Mr. President, you’ve asked us repeatedly to ‘pass the bill’ tonight. In an effort to move this forward with the highest priority, I’d like to have the first reading of this bill into the record while we have everyone here in the chamber tonight. If Ms. Pelosi wants to sponsor the bill, that's fine. If nobody else will step forward, I’ll even offer sponsor it myself to move the process along.”

The opportunity to do that in front of the cameras of the national media has been lost. Still, that should be his first words out of his mouth when he calls the House to order this morning.

The rest of my comment stands. Anything this important should be published for at least 3 days before the House votes on it.

He did say something like “pass it now” a coupla dozen times.

It's just a campaign speech. It's one more move to try and point the finger of blame at the GOP for the incredible mess he has created. Another example of this is the new mantra that "Washington is broken". The reality is the Pubs have offered one great bill after another. They passed the Ryan Budget Plan. They passed Cut, Cap and Balance. They have offered to try and find common ground on a variety of issues and the Rats have done NOTHING!

If this jerk is reelected we deserve the catastrophe that will follow.

who knows what evil? wrote:

WHO is writing this bill???

That's an excellent question.

If past experience is any indication, this bill will be written by lawyers from SEIU, the Teamsters, AFL-CIO and other unions. I would be shocked if it came from anyone else.

I'm still amaed at the nerve that the Teleprompter writers had last night. Demanding "Pass the bill" or something like that 17 or 18 times in a 34 minute speech, and there is no bill 24 hours later, there probably won't be a bill 48 hours later, and I'd be very surprised if there was a bill 96 hours later.

My searches today are turning up a whole lot of "backers" of the American Jobs Act. Various Democrat Senators and Congress critters, as expected, along with some Governors. But I'm surprised at some of the CEO's that are lining up and backing this non-existent, yet to be written piece of legislation.

I'm considering writing an additional piece here, "CEO's Writing a blank check to the President," discussing that situation. I'm reviewing my meager investments to make certain I don't have my money in companies led by CEO's who are willing to write a blank check and back a bill that hasn't even been written yet.

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