Obama visits Richmond, presents jobs plan to 8,900
The day after President Obama presented his $447 billion American Jobs Act to Congress, he came to Richmond to begin selling his plan to the American public.
Emily Satchell and Andrianna Nichols
Contributing Writers
The day after President Obama presented his $447 billion American Jobs Act to Congress, he came to Richmond to begin selling his plan to the American public.
On Friday, Sept. 9, Obama visited the University of Richmond campus to address the Richmond population.
Virginia, which carries 13 electoral votes, is predicted to be a swing state with Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and Ohio.
Obama is planning a visit to Ohio and North Carolina early next week. He told Congress that he intends to take the message of the bill to every corner of the country.
The $447 billion bill focuses on infrastructure spending and tax cuts that aim to aid a slow economy and reduce the country’s unemployment rate.
Friday, Obama was more specific about the bill when speaking to an audience of approximately 8,900 Richmond residents.
He said the plan would create more jobs for teachers, veterans, young people and for the long-term unemployed. The bill would provide tax cuts for hiring new workers and raising wages. Companies who hire someone who has spent more than six months looking for a job would also be eligible for a tax credit.
VCU sophomore, Lauren McGonigle, had never seen a president speak before she attended Obama’s presentation on Friday.
“He was kind of vague in what he was trying to do,” McGonigle said. “I wish he had gone into more detail about how he was going to pay for everything in the bill.”
Johnny Harris, a Richmond resident, said that Obama’s address to Richmond was “energizing.”
“It was good to hear he had a plan laid out,” Harris said.
Jo Ann Charlesworth, another Richmond resident, shared Harris’s optimism.
“I’m very enthusiastic about his jobs plans,” Charlesworth said. “I’m hoping we can get this country moving again.”
