Obama to announce aid for middle class

[Peacetrain]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100125/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_jobs


WASHINGTON – Previewing key elements of his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama is announcing on Monday a series of initiatives aimed at calming some of the economic fears of struggling middle class families.

The proposals to be unveiled by Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House, and which the president will push in his Wednesday night speech, include a doubling of the child care tax credit for families earning under $85,000; an increase in federal funding for child care programs of $1.6 billion; capping student loan payments to 10 percent of income above "a basic living allowance;" expanding tax credits to match retirement savings; and increasing aid for families taking care of elderly relatives. The plan would also require all employers to provide the option of a workplace-based retirement savings plan.

[peoli]

1. yeah but did you hear that he hasnt done ANYTHING?!

[Peacetrain]

5. Oh I am sure we will be told there is no good news..

[FrenchieCat]

2. Most Folks here don't like it.

It doesn't help them directly,
so it's not good.

[Peacetrain]

7. I am sure there are those

who are dedicated to tearing apart anything that even looks like good news. The banking post you left is also a thumbs up. I hope people will read all the news coming out and see where we headed in a good direction

[JoePhilly]

12. I want what I want and I want it NOW!!!

[jaxx]

3. And some people think he has forgotten the middle class!

These are good things for the people.

[Peacetrain]

6. This is very good!

[fasttense]

4. The effort put into saving the banks severely overshadows these minor remedies.

$700 billion for banksters $1 billion for We The People.

[FrenchieCat]

8. How much money did we get back

from Bush's catastrophy thus far, do you know?
How much in interest did we make?
And how much are we still owed?

Thanks.

[Romulox]

28. I think the number was $68 Billion LOSS for 2009. nt

[babylonsister]

10. And Obama is trying to rectify that. But ignore that...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=149860&mesg_id=149921

[Rosa Luxemburg]

25. for $700 billion they need to get the housing market moving

people who could get jobs in another state can't sell their homes and ofcourse we know the other reasons why. Loss of jobs, foreclosures, no healthcare. Banks need to put back what they owe into the communities. Some have paid back.

[babylonsister]

9. Now this is a bad thing on DU. Go figure. nt

[earthside]

11. Get Real.

These are proposals ... not good news yet.

More importantly, if the MINORITY Senate Republicans and Scott '41' decide they want to stop these proposals, then they can. What I want to hear from Obama and the Senate Democrats this week is how they plan to restore majority rule to the United States Senate so that these proposals (and other progressive legislation) can become actual 'good news'.

Otherwise, it all looks like just more talk.

[FrenchieCat]

14. I'm not sure they need more than 51 votes for this?

Do you have some different information?

Plus, why would Republicans vote against tax cuts.
Isn't that like suicide with them?

[atreides1]

16. Repukes won't vote against tax cuts

As long as they are directed to the right people, and as far as the Repukes have shown in the past, the right people are not the Middle Class.

The Repukes will lie about what this means and the corporate media will carry the Repuke message and say little or nothing that is true.

Judging from the HCR issue, the Tea Baggers will rise up against Middle Class tax cuts.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. teabaggers want tax cuts for the very rich but not for themselves!!!

clueless lot. Why doesn't someone call them out on this?

[earthside]

30. Oh yes, 60 votes.

My understanding is that any legislation can be filibustered unless it is part of the budget process, or the Constitution mandates a super majority number ... like ratifying treaties.

If the Republicans can deny Obama and the Democrats credit for a tax cut, then that is what they will do -- that is obviously the major thrust of their obstructionist strategy.

[paparush]

13. Relief for WHO? Oh, oh, US! What a great idea. Dollars to start rolling in around 2014.

[ShortnFiery]

15. Talk is cheap. I believe this when the legislation is passed. However, I won't hold my breath.

:eyes:

[kickysnana]

18. +1

[lib2DaBone]

17. Smoke and Mirrors.. meaningless

..Tax credit for those earning under $85,000? ROFL.....

What does this mean if you don't have a J-O-B.....?

Obama just doesn't get it...

[Bluenorthwest]

19. This is only for certain families, not for us all

Only those approved by the Rick Warren Brand old time religion need apply. More discriminatory and unfair policy from the McClurkin administration.
Families. But only some families, just the 'equal' ones. Of course.

[Juche]

20. Good news, but I'll believe it when it is done

I don't doubt Obama wants to do the right thing. And I hope he is going to take a more populist, economic turn since the loss in MA (if the dems and Obama actually build middle class security, they will ensure democratic majorities for decades. That was one of the goals of health reform, economic security). However I'll wait and see where this goes.

The concept of requiring all employers to have an option for retirement is a good one.

I hope these proposals get through.

[doc03]

21. How does any of that make jobs? n/t

[joeglow3]

22. So, because we make the sacrifice for my wife to stay home, we get dick.

We make less than $85,000 a year, but decide we want one parent at home. Frankly, we should offer credits to allow more of this.

As a caveat, my brother stays at home full time with their kids, so both genders can do this.

[uponit7771]

24. Obama gave a tax cut to 95% of US workers...my goodness..

[Hello_Kitty]

31. Fat lot of good that did the unemployed people in this country.

A dollar in tax cuts puts much less than a dollar back in the economy. I understand that "95% of working Americans got a tax cut" makes a good talking point, but it's not really good fiscal policy.

[Hello_Kitty]

32. And also, child tax credits incent more people to go into the workforce

Which means more people competing with us unemployed folks for jobs.

[uponit7771]

23. But but but...Obama....CORPORATIST PONY!!!!

[paulk]

27. great news!

If you've got children, have a college loan, have any retirement savings left, take care of "elderly relatives", or are not self employed.

OTOH -

Maybe some of those savings will trickle down to me and I'll get some work out of it. Yay!

[centristgrandpa]

29. How about something right now...

More public works projects per state, t0ns of infrastructure repair needed, roads, bridges, school buildings to mention sum. 5o% of work must be local contractors...

[LatteLibertine]

33. You'll never

be able to "save Main Street" if you don't contain or closely regulate Wall Street. We do that by voting out politicians regardless of D or R tag who refuse to represent the best interests of 90% of the United States population. They'll get the message eventually. Wall Street has the cash but we have the raw votes/numbers.

[tranche]

34. Obama sucks and there's nothing he can do to make me happy.

Just joining the DU pathetic patrons party.