One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
California members of Congress react to Obama's jobs proposal
Listen
California members of Congress react to Obama's jobs proposal
California Democrats and Republicans alike found something in the speech to like, and a few things they don't, in President Barack Obama's $450 billion jobs package, which he presented Thursday night to Congress.
Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman of Los Angeles says the president laid it out very clearly: "We've got to give, by way of tax credits and expenditures, money, so that we can get people hired and get the economy growing again."
Republican Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy has a caveat.
"Whatever we do in a jobs bill, we have to pay for it," he said. The president tasked the so-called "super" committee to find additional cuts elsewhere in the budget.
Democrat John Garamendi of northern California says he's willing to support the president's call to reform health care for the poor. He says medical in California is a "huge bureaucratic mess."
But Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of Temecula says it will be harder to get Democrats to support the president's call for passage of stalled free trade agreements.
"That's where the President's problem is. He has to get the rest of his party to stand up for free and fair trade. He got virtually the entire Republican party to stand up on that." Issa poo-pooed the president's job package, saying it sounds like a "second stimulus."
Correction: The president's jobs package is worth $450 billion, not $400 million. Apologies for the error.
Sponsored message
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
