How Democrats can create jobs today

By Dale Bowling

 The American Jobs Act has been waiting in Congress for a year to become law- hoping and praying it will, but today it is still, just a bill.

 The AJA, which is fully paid for, has been at the mercy of Congressional Republicans who have stated that the "single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president". Not creating jobs, not building a better America, but making sure Obama loses his job. If unemployed Americans had jobs now, the GOP knows who would get the credit and that doesn’t match its priorities. Not even breaking the AJA into smaller, more agreeable pieces could help that forlorn bill, sitting there on Capitol Hill.

What radical things lurk in the American Jobs Act which keep it from its legislative aspirations?

-Targeted tax cuts for small businesses- especially those hiring on new employees.

-Tax breaks for businesses which hire returning veterans.

-A payroll tax cut for 98% of small businesses and practically all workers.

-Job training for the unemployed so they can get skills that allow them to contribute to the changing economy.

-Badly needed improvements to America’s aging infrastructure.

-Modernizing schools and preventing the lay-offs of more teachers, firefighters and police officers.

Did I mention that all of this is already paid for?

The American Jobs Act which has been languishing on the steps of the Capitol for a year could have already been implemented by now. It could be producing jobs as we speak. Why isn’t it?

In a two-party system, we have to find common ground and truly be interested in working toward the common good for all Americans. Not 53% of them. Not just those who can afford a $50,000 a plate dinner. 100% of Americans. Democrats have a bill ready to go to help. With a real majority, we could really help all Americans.