President Obama made only a single specific reference to rural issues and agriculture as he unveiled the American Jobs Act during his address to a Joint Session of Congress on Thursday evening, despite the fact that he spent three days in August on a bus tour through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois to promote rural job creation. But today on the White House blog, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explains that the President's $450 billion measure is good for the heartland.The President's proposal includes a major rebuild for America's transportation infrastructure, and this is terrific news for rural America, Vilsack says.
As for the President's mention of agriculture? Mr. Obama cited President Abraham Lincoln at the end of his speech, as an example of bipartisanship that should be replicated today. He didn't note that Lincoln founded the Department of Agriculture in 1862, but rather pointed to the educational institutions that are part of that legacy.
“We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our union,” President Obama said. “But in the middle of a civil war, he was also a leader who looked to the future — a Republican president who mobilized government to build the transcontinental railroad; launch the National Academy of Sciences; and set up the first land grant colleges. And leaders of both parties have followed the example he set.”
The Secretary's blogpost:
Last night, I went to the Capitol to hear the President address Congress about the way forward to grow the economy and create jobs.
There is no doubt that these have been tough times. And it’s very tough for the many Americans who are looking for work. So we’ve got to keep finding ways to help the unemployed in the short term and rebuild the middle class over the long term.
The American Jobs Act that President Obama laid out this evening will have an immediate impact. It will create jobs now. And it is based on bipartisan ideas that both Democrats and Republicans have supported in the past.
Americans living in rural communities know well that the specific ideas in the bill work.
Too many of rural areas are dealing with crumbling infrastructure. They know the benefits of rebuilding local roads, or of improving their water system. And our rural construction workers are ready to get back on the job.
The small businesses that employee most rural Americans know that the tax cuts in the bill will mean more work, so they can expand and hire. And every working rural family will benefit from money back in their pockets.
Small rural governments know they can use the support to keep folks on payroll. Teachers, firefighters and other first responders need to be kept on the job preparing our children for a better future and keeping our families safe.
Most importantly, folks in rural America know that in difficult times, we need to come together to hammer out a solution that benefits everyone. And elected leaders in Washington need to do the same as they work to support job growth and build a stronger future for all Americans.
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*Photo of President Obama during his remarks on Thursday by Getty