Labor Leaders Push Obama for Second Stimulus Package
Email ABC News' Karen Travers reports: In a meeting with President Obama today at the White House, top labor leaders pushed for a second stimulus package to create more jobs. “Since the onset of the recession, this country has lost an astounding 6.5 million jobs and $14 trillion in wealth. We support the President's recovery and reinvestment program, and we believe it should be substantially reinforced with more stimulus, creating millions of good jobs that cannot be outsourced,” the National Labor Coordinating Committee (NLCC) said in a statement after the meeting. A labor official said Obama did not commit to any future stimulus package. The president met for approximately an hour this afternoon with more than a dozen labor leaders, including AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, SEIU President Andy Stern and Change to Win Chair Anna Burger. Obama used his weekly address last Saturday to quell the calls for a second stimulus bill and said the Recovery Act “has worked as intended.” “As I made clear at the time it was passed, the Recovery Act was not designed to work in four months – it was designed to work over two years,” he said in the address. “We must let it work the way it’s supposed to, with the understanding that in any recession, unemployment tends to recover more slowly than other measures of economic activity.” In an interview in Moscow last week with ABC News, Obama did not rule out a second stimulus, but expressed concerns for the deficit. “Now, the question that some have argued is okay what next? Maybe you stop the freefall but you still have close to 10% unemployment, and you know this is something that we wrestle with constantly,” Obama said in an interview with Jake Tapper. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis also joined the meeting, which focused on job creation, health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would make it easier for workers to organize unions. Obama reiterated his support for the legislation, according to a labor official. In a statement after the meeting, the AFL-CIO’s Sweeney called the meeting a “critical opportunity” for the labor groups and the White House to discuss these issues. "President Obama has always been a friend to the union movement, and the meeting emphasized his continued support on issues important to working people,” Sweeney said. A labor official said the leaders conveyed their support for the including three key elements in a health care bill: an employee mandate, a public insurance option and no taxing of health care benefits. There was no firm commitment from the White House on these issues and the message was familiar – Congress is still working on the legislation and the White House is not drawing lines in the sand at this point. Full list of Participants:
Change to Win Chair Anna Burger
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney
National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel
Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern
United Food and Commercial Workers President Joe Hansen
Laborers International Union of North America President Terry O’Sullivan
International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Jim Hoffa
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Gerry McEntee
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten
United Auto Workers Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn
United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Ed Hill
Communication Workers of America President Larry Cohen
American Rights at Work Chair David Bonior
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
Will The One heed his masters? Stay tuned…
Posted by: tjp612 | July 13, 2009, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
Sorry, but the first stimulus isn’t working. The economy is losing more jobs than the stimulus is creating. I don’t know if a second one will help, but I do know this: Obama doesn’t know how to fix the economy.
People need to stop casting votes based on emotion and start judging candidates based on experience and accomplishments.
Posted by: Karen | July 13, 2009, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
“Obama doesn’t know how to fix the economy.
People need to stop casting votes based on emotion and start judging candidates based on experience and accomplishments.”
McCain had experience and accomplishments in regards to the economy?
Posted by: Ryan C | July 13, 2009, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
I’m not surprised labor is asking for more – they’re the only ones that benefited from the first one… Guess I should have joined a union so that I could benefit too. Where’s my stimulus?
Posted by: Jenny | July 13, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
Riiiiight…borrow more money to “create or save” more government jobs, that will require ever more borrowing to continue to save them. Got it!
Posted by: Mike in Costa Mesa | July 13, 2009, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Would it be more accurate to call them Labor Union leaders?
Posted by: MayBee | July 13, 2009, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Hate the rich? Hate the businesses? Obama’s the man for you, huh. If the cap and tax goes through, socialized health care, free choice act…any or all of the above. Then fear not socialists, all of the companies are going overseas, where by the way, those countries at the G8 warned against anymore “spending (wasting) your ways out of this recession.” All except Britain and Japan, where we are following a great example, of complete economic collapse.
If you think unemployment is bad now…wait until any of these measures gets passed. I never thought, or could even imagine that the United States would become a Banana Republic. Maybe I shouldn’t even use the word Republic, because we have lost that. Benjamin Franklin is spinning in his grave. Never would he imagine the United Socialist States of America.
People compare this to the economics during the Great Depression. Not even close. We have had no Gold Standard since the 1970′s, and we are talking about a second stimulus. If we are supposedly coming out of recession, WE THE TAXPAYERS want the 730 out of 780 Billion dollars back that has not yet been spent! And hack these ridiculous job-killing programs NOW! That’s the only way to save the country from rampant inflation and Carter+ unemployment.
And as for some who still invoke their parties’ talking points…wake up and drop them. Become an independent American and hold all of those in Washington to the fire. They have burned us all for so damn many years and continue to use left vs. right, rich vs. poor. If you don’t see that, then we have no chance at going forward to preserve our Constitution, or our own country.
Posted by: clint | July 13, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
How about we wait to see the first 600,000 jobs that are supposed to be “created or saved” by the end of the summer…although technically the summer runs from June 21 to September 21, most of us kiss it goodbye on Labor Day since we started it on Memorial Day.
Posted by: Mike in Costa Mesa | July 13, 2009, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
how can the president give out 8000 dollar tax credit for 1st time buyers tobuy ahouse and the IRS take it dont say its for the people let evrybody no if u owe yhe IRS u cant buy a house because u applied for that money so the IRS can take it. what is wrong with the world or should i say are President for letting this happen.
Posted by: 0akley want help | July 13, 2009, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm
MR.President i asking for your help
Posted by: 0akley want help | July 13, 2009, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
That’s right…if something doesn’t work…throw MORE money at it. That makes a lot of sense!!
Stop the debt! It is destroying the counry.
Posted by: MIke | July 13, 2009, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
“That’s right…if something doesn’t work…throw MORE money at it. That makes a lot of sense!!”
Worked for public education. Oh wait, no it didn’t.
Posted by: Stacey | July 13, 2009, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Good idea – because the first one is working so well. Einstein defined insanity as repeating the same behaviour again and again and expecting different results. So far, NH has received $400 million from the ‘stimulus’ and has created 50 jobs – and, wow, 34 of them are full time. That’s about $8.2 million per job. Someone pointed out that to ‘create or save’ the 200k jobs apparently being ‘created or saved’ (they don’t think we believe this stuff do they?) at the 8.2 million rate it will cost us about $16.4 trillion. Imagine how many millions of jobs would be created if you put the money in the hands of those it belongs to instead of those who will personally profit.
Posted by: DB | July 13, 2009, 8:10 pm 8:10 pm
CORRECTION;
WE already had 2 stimulus package..so this will be 3rd one! lets not forget
Posted by: frieda | July 13, 2009, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
They haven’t even spent 90% of the 1st one! Where the HECK is this money going??? “Beuller… Bueller… Bueller!!!” How about you spend the 1st one or GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE!!!
Posted by: hmn | July 13, 2009, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
Just give every citizen a million dollars. Most of that will get pumped back into the economy before night falls. Smart people (the evil wealthy who know how to manage money, and I’m not one of them) will save most, but the “average Amar’can” will blow it fast. Still won’t cost as much as the latest scheme, and it’s a better method to boost the economy than any idea the Braintrust has come up with…
Posted by: Eyes Open | July 13, 2009, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
Union leaders tell Obama, just give us the money directly this time.
Posted by: Danilo | July 13, 2009, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
So where are the jobs? I’m still waiting! Obama and company are going to do what they want to anyway. Go for it! Lets see what happens. I always wanted to see what political suicide looks like anyway.
Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 13, 2009, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
Ryan C: “McCain had experience and accomplishments in regards to the economy?”
Why do Obama supporters always assume that anybody who criticizes Obama must be a Republican? The other choice was Hillary and she would have been better able to fix the economy.
Obama is just trying to “get over.” He won’t exert any political capital on any issue. Meanwhile, our economy gets worse and states are making deep cuts in education that will set back our country for generations. China and other countries are actually spending more on education and infrastructure, but not us. We’re going backwards.
But the Wall St banksters are getting their money. I should say our money.
Posted by: Karen | July 13, 2009, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
Eyes Open:”Just give every citizen a million dollars… Still won’t cost as much as the latest scheme,”
Are you trying to make a joke about mathematical ignorance in America or something? That would cost 60,000 times as much as the ‘latest scheme’ (I assume you mean the stimulus package, which costed about $500 billion in spending, with about $250 billion of tax breaks and refunds).
Posted by: jhw539 | July 13, 2009, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
look at what industry is in big trouble. All the manufacturing companies that are heavy UNION. Here is your sign……So why is Obama asking all the losers for their opions? Why not ask Bill Gates, Ross Perot, people that have great business sense.
Posted by: camp50 | July 13, 2009, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Another terrific point is that before the great depression even colonial times and during wartime: booze was taxed even though booze itself was used as currency and pay. Marijuana is much the same (people use it as money) and yet the government wont legalize and tax it! I guess its their own stupid fault. They are beyond clueless and you want to trust your loved ones healthcare and future to them.
Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 13, 2009, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
Hey, and these guys know how to sqeeze
Posted by: Ozarkess | July 13, 2009, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
McCain had experience and accomplishments in regards to the economy?
Posted by: Ryan C | Jul 13, 2009 6:57:08 PM
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Hey straw man. How about rebutting the “Obama doesn’t know how to fix the economy.” statement by telling us how he does know how.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 13, 2009, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
I’m not surprised labor is asking for more – they’re the only ones that benefited from the first one… Posted by: Jenny | Jul 13, 2009 6:58:02 PM
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Yes, it took quite a few months to funnel that auto bailout money to the unions before claiming bankruptcy, which they knew they would do anyway.
We were not fooled, Mr. President.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 13, 2009, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Posted by: clint | Jul 13, 2009 7:30:16 PM
Look at the bright side, clint. Obama is putting the U.S. currency counterfeiters out of business. There’s no longer any incentive…
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 13, 2009, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
Yeah so what kind of idiot actually believed that auto makers and banks were broke and not siphoning off money to appear broke when Obama was doling out the cash? Oh yeah thats right the same people who think the stimulus is working and that the government needs to take over healthcare!
Posted by: guesswhaturwrong | July 13, 2009, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
Why do Obama supporters always assume that anybody who criticizes Obama must be a Republican? The other choice was Hillary and she would have been better able to fix the economy. Posted by: Karen | Jul 13, 2009 10:57:02 PM
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It’s a straw man deflection to get the heat off your guy and not deal with the actual comment. Obama has no answer and his loyal supporters don’t either.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 13, 2009, 11:24 pm 11:24 pm
Traffic Cop Timmy:”Hey straw man. How about rebutting the “Obama doesn’t know how to fix the economy.” statement by telling us how he does know how.”
Speaking of strawmen, NO ONE “KNOWS” how to fix the economy. However, anyone who paid any attention the last 8 years KNOWS that the Republican’s “cut taxes on the rich every chance you get” ideology does NOT create jobs. So it makes some sense to vote for the guy who is trying something different.
And historically, the biggest stimulus spending ever – where the goverment paid people a massive amount of money to build complex machines that were then literally blown up or scuttled in the ocean within a few years – ended the Great Depression.
Posted by: jhw539 | July 13, 2009, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
The “Employee Free Choice Act” was stopped last time because neither the business community nor the majority of union workers were in favor of it. But since neither of those groups give large campaign donations to Democrats, it’s being revived. This isn’t a bill to help union members, just the union leaders.
Posted by: ProfElwood | July 13, 2009, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
Is this what we need..$16 million of the stimulus money was appropriated to take care of the salt marsh harvest mouse. Thanks Nancy Pelosi for spending my money better that I can.
Posted by: theChief | July 13, 2009, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
jhw539: “Speaking of strawmen, NO ONE “KNOWS” how to fix the economy…”
How do you know? Just because Obama doesn’t know how to fix it doesn’t mean that nobody else does.
Posted by: Karen | July 14, 2009, 12:24 am 12:24 am
I’ll see your TRILLION dollars and raise you another TRILLION..WHERE DOES IT END???
Posted by: Parallex View | July 14, 2009, 12:55 am 12:55 am
We haven’t spent most of the first stinulous yet because the bill was a spending bill and not a stimulous bill. Obama has much of the bill scheduled to be spent just before the 2012 election so he can bribe crucial voters for voting for him by spending the money on their projects. That’s all the stimulous bill is. That’s why it’s not creating jobs. And with the trilion dollar deficeit and the costly health care bill and the heavy tax burden of cap and trade hanging over our heads, employers will not create jobs because of the uncertain future of this country. And the consumers aren’t spending for the same reason. The big question is, Why doesn’t Obama get this.
Posted by: Sandy | July 14, 2009, 1:38 am 1:38 am
labor the joke is on you and unions. 500 jobs in Arlington texas over the weekend, replaced by non union employees. makes seats for suv’s, go gm
Posted by: william | July 14, 2009, 1:48 am 1:48 am
Obama is really trying to send us to no man’s land. That is scary
Posted by: Patricia | July 14, 2009, 5:55 am 5:55 am
I wish this was possible. Bush put and left us in a pit.
That said, Obama has to share the blame due to his own bailout of banks and corporations who misused the funds without any actual repercussions. We simply can’t afford another bailout at this time, even for the people who should have been among the recipients the first time around.
Posted by: jan | July 14, 2009, 7:18 am 7:18 am
“How do you know? Just because Obama doesn’t know how to fix it doesn’t mean that nobody else does.”
Obama is “the One we’ve been waiting for” – If He cannot fix it, no one can.
/sarc.
Posted by: tjp612 | July 14, 2009, 8:19 am 8:19 am
Posted by: Sandy | Jul 14, 2009 1:38:49 AM
Bingo! Well stated.
“The big question is, why doesn’t Obama get this.”
Obama gets it, which is why he is doing what he is doing. Democrats need chaos to push through their liberal agenda (as you stated, the “stimulus” package has done nothing to create jobs because it was not constructed to stimulate the economy; rather, it is a vehicle to distribute $$$ across favored programs and constituents). Stimulus spending should be “targeted, timely, and temporary” – This package meets NONE of this criteria.
Obama is counting on voters to pull the lever for him come 2012 because he is “cool” and because he can “give a good speech” even though his economic policies will be an abject failure (at best, this will be a jobless recovery, despite how much money the government borrows and prints). Sadly, the typical uninformed voter will blindly vote again for The One in 2012. I’m optimistic that enough Americans will open their eyes, see what havoc The One has wrought, and will seek alternative options in 2012.
Posted by: tjp612 | July 14, 2009, 8:38 am 8:38 am
Double down, and when that doesn’t work, triple down, and when that doesn’t work, do it again. It’s all Chinese money anyway! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Patti O'Riley | July 14, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
Obama needs to swallow his pride and beg Cuba, Zimbabwe, and North Korea, to share their secretes to economic success through government spending.
Posted by: Patti O'Riley | July 14, 2009, 8:49 am 8:49 am
Yes, let’s let “Labor Leaders” set our economic policy. Look what “Labor Leaders” (I prefer the term “capos”) did for the auto industry, the steel industry and the manufacturing base of the US.
But hey, they’re not complete failures, they got some real pretty houses in Jersey for themselves!
Posted by: paul | July 14, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am
These policies are a complete financial farce. More akin to the ultimate PONZI (Bernie Madoff is Child’s Play) scheme on the American taxpayer.
Posted by: Steve | July 14, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
Since the economic mess is Mr. Bush’s fault, I suggest we bring him back in office and make him deal with it. When things are back in order, then Mr. Obama can come back and follow his Utopian dream.
Posted by: Terry | July 14, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Labor Leaders Line Up to get Back on Governments Teet. Need more money to keep fat public pensions run by local and state gov’t going for another few years while the private sector stalls. Obama listens and says, Right On Baby!
Posted by: Aaron | July 14, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
Madoff SHOULD have become a Senator, Union Leader or President. He’d be right at home.
Posted by: Danilo | July 14, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
And if the stimulus was a two year plan PBHO, why was there such a rush and such an urgency and why did you promise that it would immediately begin to turn the economy around. Oooops. And that can’t be explained away as “merely overheated campaign rhetoric”.
Posted by: Aaron | July 14, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
“why did you promise that it would immediately begin to turn the economy around.” Posted by: Aaron | Jul 14, 2009 1:24:25 PM
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Aaron, the President clearly, directly and repeatedly told us this economic crisis was not going to be an easy fix, that it would take time for the economy to recover – and that things might get worse before they get better.
That you didn’t understand that is not he President’s fault.
Posted by: danita | July 14, 2009, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
Whoo hooo! Another $1500 headed my way. I don’t care who pays for it just send my check to me pronto!
Thanks!
Ps.. thank you Obama. Keep the money flowing my way and I’ll vote for you again! my vote is easily bought!
Posted by: Yippee | July 14, 2009, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
Yippie . …
Did you get your tax relief money? $288 BILLION in tax relief in the Recovery and Reinvestment plan . ..
Posted by: danita | July 14, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
For those that let their party lines blind them into thinking something as silly as “the stimulus plan has created no jobs” just needs to get on the Texas DOT site, or probably any similar state site, and see how many road jobs show to be Stimulus budget funded.
So sick of people so far out of touch with reality simply due to the party in power.
Any financial misfortune that has fallen on you has likely been deserved from your inability to focus on reality.
Posted by: shawn | July 16, 2009, 4:15 am 4:15 am