VP Biden: It’s Taking a While to Get U.S. Economy “Out of this Ditch” but Recovery Act Is Working
EmailABC News’ Karen Travers reports:
Vice President Joe Biden said today that it is “taking a while” for the nation’s economy to “get out of this ditch” but credited the Obama Administration’s stimulus legislation, enacted one year ago, for laying a foundation for long-term economic growth.
The vice president traveled to Saginaw, MI to tout the Obama Administration’s $787 billion stimulus plan, ahead of tomorrow’s one-year anniversary of the president signing it into law.
“The recovery act is working, it’s not only helping Saginaw get back on its feet, it’s the laying the foundation for long term recovery in the future,” the vice president said in remarks at Delta College. “It’s taking a while to get out of this ditch, but it’s working. It’s working. The act has succeeded in helping pull us back from the brink.”
Michigan’s economy has been hard hit by the downturn in the U.S. auto industry and the housing crisis. The state’s unemployment stands at 14.6 percent, the highest in the nation.
Biden toured a chemical processing training center at Delta College and met with business leaders, local officials, and workers at a diner in Saginaw. He also visited the Hemlock Semi-conductor plant, a solar cell material factory, which received over $140 million in clean energy tax credits under the stimulus act.
Biden’s day in Michigan kicks off a push this week by the Obama Administration to tout the stimulus legislation’s effect on the economy. The administration says the $787 billion legislation has helped create or save 1.5-2.4 million jobs. Tomorrow the vice president will present a report to Obama detailing how the stimulus legislation has worked at the one-year mark.
Over the next several days administration officials will visit 35 communities to check on the progress of the Recovery Act. President Obama will mark the anniversary with an event at the White House on Wednesday highlighting Americans who have benefited from the federal funding.
-Karen Travers
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“He also visited the Hemlock Semi-conductor plant, a solar cell material factory, which received over $140 million in clean energy tax credits under the stimulus act.”
I’m glad to see this in here. The media has been pretty complicit in hiding the fact that almost a third of the so called “spending” is actually tax cuts. Since when did money the government doesn’t take become “spending”?
Posted by: jhw539 | February 16, 2010, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Yes it is while all the people who voted against it are now standing up to their constituants and saying look what I am doing for our state….the money they did not want and are using it to make themselves look good….What a World.
Posted by: talmag | February 16, 2010, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Yes it is while all the people who voted against it are now standing up to their constituants and saying look what I am doing for our state
Posted by: talmag | Feb 16, 2010 4:02:13 PM
We’re gonna need names and quotes… and how many makes up “all the people”?
Posted by: For The Record | February 16, 2010, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
For the record, Jake posted an incomplete list last month, its in the archives somewhere. It was decent research, compared to what we usually see.
Yes, it is hypocritical for the GOP to claim credit for projects that they voted against.
However, everyone knows that the stimulus was the absolute minimum needed to stop the economy from sliding into depression. To really get the economy back on its feet, at least twice as much money, and direct creation of jobs would be needed.
Posted by: Flash Override | February 16, 2010, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
VP Biden: what sane person listens to
anything he says?
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | February 16, 2010, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
More propaganda.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 16, 2010, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
Sir Toby Belch wrote, “VP Biden: what sane person listens to
anything he says?”
A legitimate question, but I would ask what sane person BELIEVES anything ANY politician says?
Posted by: Tom | February 16, 2010, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
“Tom”
I single out Biden because he is a
harmless boob. I listen to EVERTHING
Obama utters. I don’t consider him
“harmless” in the least.
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | February 16, 2010, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
Yes, it is working. That has been established, and agreed to by even the Wall St Journal.
The problem is it is too small. We need a trillion more dollars spent on public works. NOW
Posted by: Flash Override | February 16, 2010, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
Are we recovering or digging the hole deeper?
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | February 17, 2010, 8:50 am 8:50 am
“The problem is it is too small. We need a trillion more dollars spent on public works. NOW”
Um, the bulk of the stimulus hasn’t been spent yet. But why stop there? Let’s spend 10 QUADRILLION!! Debt doesn’t matter, right?
Posted by: Mary | February 17, 2010, 9:36 am 9:36 am
Joe – Saying it is so doesn’t make it so! All that was done was to kick the can down the street. (No tough decisions) Wait until the bill comes due!!!
Posted by: tillyerkt | February 17, 2010, 9:53 pm 9:53 pm