The American Jobs Act In Florida

President Obama recently announced his plan to create jobs: the American Jobs Act. The purpose of the plan is to put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans; presumably without adding a dime to the deficit.

The Oracle was curious to know how the President's plan would impact Florida. Here is what we found:

TAX CUTS TO HELP AMERICA’S SMALL BUSINESSES HIRE AND GROW - In Florida, 410,000 firms will receive a payroll tax cut under the American Jobs Act.

PUTTING WORKERS BACK ON THE JOB WHILE REBUILDING AND MODERNIZING AMERICA -The President’s plan will make immediate investments of at least $1,578,600,000 in Florida that could support a minimum of approximately 20,500 local jobs.

The President is proposing to invest $35 billion to prevent layoffs, and will provide $1,669,500,000 in funds to Florida to support up to 25,900 educator and first responder jobs.

The President is proposing a $25 billion investment in school infrastructure that will modernize at least 35,000 public schools. Florida will receive $1,280,300,000 in funding to support as many as 16,600 jobs.

The President is proposing to invest $15 billion in a national effort to put construction workers on the job rehabilitating and refurbishing hundreds of thousands of vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses. Florida could receive about $2,701,800,000 to revitalize and refurbish local communities, in addition to funds that would be available through a competitive application.

The President’s plan proposes $5 billion of investments for facilities modernization needs at community colleges. Florida could receive $288,400,000 in funding in the next fiscal year for its community colleges.

PATHWAYS BACK TO WORK FOR AMERICANS LOOKING FOR JOBS - Drawing on the best ideas of both parties and the most innovative states, the President is proposing the most sweeping reforms to the unemployment insurance (UI) system in 40 years to help those without jobs transition to the workplace. This could help put the 498,000 long-term unemployed workers in Florida back to work.

Alongside these reforms, the President is reiterating his call to extend unemployment insurance, preventing 148,500 people looking for work in Florida from losing their benefits in just the first 6 weeks.

The President is proposing a new Pathways Back to Work Fund to provide hundreds of thousands of low-income youth and adults with opportunities to work and to achieve needed training in growth industries. Pathways Back to Work could place 8,800 adults and 35,600 youths in jobs in Florida.

TAX RELIEF FOR EVERY AMERICAN WORKER AND FAMILY - The President’s plan will expand the payroll tax cut passed last December by cutting workers’ payroll taxes in half next year. A typical household in Florida, with a median income of around $46,000, will receive a tax cut of around $1,430.

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The President urged Congress to pass his bill - NOW! Is the bill getting passed? Hell no! The Republicans, and some Democrats are doing now what they did during the debt ceiling crisis - they are stonewalling and will continue to do so for at least 14 more months.

The Republican position appears to be what it has been all along; it is infinitely better to make Americans suffer than it is to give President Obama anything.

We can only hope that America remembers this in 2012 and returns the favor. Make the Republican obstructionists suffer!




Editor's note: Much of the information contained herein was obtained from the Democratic National Committee.