Jobs, Not Cuts

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President Obama has taken a step in the right direction with his speech and jobs plan. It was a small step - but it has to be to present Republicans with the choice to cooperate or get pushed out of the way. If this passes it is a win for jobs and the economy -- and therefore the President's re-election. more »

Drawing the Line

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House Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor asked to meet with President Obama, to "discuss potential areas of bipartisan agreement," before his (hopefully) big jobs speech. Either they were hoping to crib some ideas, because they're fresh out, or they wanted script approval.

Either way, here's hoping the president told them exactly where to go. (Most likely, the White House politely declined.) Because there's another group he should be listening to. more »

As President Obama prepares to give a major speech on jobs before a joint session of Congress, what does the public think the country should do?

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President Obama's speech before a joint session of Congress Thursday will be measured in a number of ways, but for the millions of unemployed and underemployed people in America only one measurement counts: the specific proposals Obama places before the country to get them back to work—not later, but now. more »

Today's unemployment report, which shows zero net job creation and 14 million people officially unemployed, shows that the economy is dead in the water, and the focus on deficit reduction and austerity measures is systematically damaging employment and growth. more »

This Labor Day, please join me in taking a little time to recognize the value of work and all who do it.

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Zero. more »

Rest. A time of rest from long hours of work. That's the principle enshrined in Labor Day, a 125-year-old American holiday that celebrates the spirit of organized labor. It's the spirit behind the six-day workweek, too. A day of rest was enshrined in monotheism's holy texts, after all, but it didn't become law until labor unions demanded it. ("Thou shalt remember the Sabbath and keep it holy" - did your boss forget?)

It's also the spirit behind the principle that people who work all their lives deserve a financially secure retirement. Our forebears fought to win us this time of rest, too, and now we're called on to defend it once more.

The White House keeps hinting that the President will once again propose cuts to Medicare and Social Security - either when he presents his jobs proposal next week, or shortly afterwards. That would roll back the hard-won principle that people who work hard deserve their time of rest. It would also be a harsh blow to a struggling economy after a devastating jobs report.

If Americans return from their Labor Day celebrations to hear their President announce these cuts, it will feel like the breaking of an ancient compact. Voters should encourage him not to make that mistake, and not to break that promise.

Days of Struggle

As the Department of Labor explains, "Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers." The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City in 1882, organized by one of the first trade unions. States and municipalities began recognizing it as a holiday in the years that followed, and Congress designated Labor day a Federal holiday in 1894. more »