http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704698004576105051800675530.htmlExecutives Skeptical Obama Can Deliver
By DANA MATTIOLI
President Barack Obama made some concessions to the business community in his State of the Union address Tuesday, saying he'd like to lower the corporate tax rate and foster U.S. job growth and innovation. Many chief executives reacted skeptically to President Barack Obama's offer to lower the corporate-tax rate and foster U.S. job growth, but some said they appreciated the president's changed tone toward business during his State of the Union address.
The Obama administration has been criticized by many U.S. chief executives for being anti-business. Since the November elections, in which Democrats lost the House majority, Mr. Obama has worked to appeal to the political center — and to business. Last week, he appointed General Electric Co. CEO Jeffrey Immelt to lead a new President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
During his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Mr. Obama said the corporate-tax rate "makes no sense and it has to change." calling on both parties to lower the rate. He also said he would seek to eliminate "unnecessary burden(s) on business." CEOs welcomed the idea of lowering the corporate-tax rate, but many wanted more details on exactly how Mr. Obama might bring it about.
"He said it would pretty much have to be budget neutral, and I don't know how they can reconcile that," said Alan Miller, CEO of Universal Health Services Inc., a hospital-management company. "A lot of things he says don't ever come to pass," he says... "I heard a lot more about creating the right environment for business," said Eric Spiegel, CEO of Siemens USA. "I think he got the message that business is where jobs will be created, not the government." Mr. Guzzi said Mr. Obama was "more moderate" in his address. "I think the tone of his speech was excellent," said Brent Saunders, CEO of Bausch & Lomb Inc. But, he added, "we've seen so much fighting in Washington I am skeptical of Washington's ability to execute."... In a press release, Business Roundtable, a trade group of corporate CEOs, said it was "heartened by President Obama's focus on American competitiveness." But, it said the priorities laid out in the address "must now be analyzed closely to ensure they will promote, rather than stifle, an environment where the private sector can create jobs and expand the economy."