Jobs and Wages
Obama's plan for turning around the economy takes an activist role that includes increasing wages and spending on public works.
· Fund federal workforce training programs and direct these programs to incorporate "green" technologies training.
· Raise minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011 and tie future rises to inflation.
· Double federal funding for basic research and make R&D tax credit permanent.
· Set up $60 billion infrastructure investment bank to help fund public works. Also, create a $25 billion emergency Jobs and Growth Fund to fund other infrastructure projects.
· Establish tax credit for companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the U.S.
· Give a temporary tax credit of $3,000 in 2009 and 2010 to companies for each new full-time employee it hires in the United States.
· Temporarily eliminate taxes on unemployment benefits.
· Advocate for stronger unionization.
"We will provide incentives to businesses and consumers to save energy and make buildings more efficient. That's how we're going to create jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced." -- Obama* NEXT: Wall Street
Last updated November 06 2008: 11:36 AM ET
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*June 16, 2008, Speech, Flint, Mich.
*June 16, 2008, Speech, Flint, Mich.
