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Pres. Obama presses Republicans on jobs for veterans
Republicans and several Democrats from conservative states have already blocked passage of other aspects of the American Jobs Act which would have provided funding for teachers and firefighters and infrastructure spending.
Republicans, bent on depriving Obama of a second White House term, brand Obama’s jobs bill as a repeat of failed policies of splashing out government money to create jobs.
House of Representatives Republicans also accuse Democrats who control the Senate of stalling on their own ideas to help veterans.
White House officials, however, argue that Republican House bills would do little to help boost hiring now at a time of high unemployment.
Obama’s program would aid returning soldiers who have fought on the battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq and now face a 12.1 percent unemployment rate for veterans who fought following the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Some 240,000 of those veterans are currently without work, and have a higher rate of unemployment than average Americans.
Obama’s plan would offer firms which hire veterans a maximum tax credit of US$5,600. Those who hire disabled veterans could get a maximum credit of US$9,600.
The White House also used executive powers Monday to help veterans, pioneering several online initiatives.
Veterans will also be offered a “gold card” to access personal help with their case at 3,000 US careers centers.
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