Obama unveils civilian jobs program for out-of-work veterans

[ProSense]

Obama unveils civilian jobs program for out-of-work veterans

byMeteor Blades

More than 10,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are homeless or in programs to keep them off the streets. The official jobless rate for veterans overall was 11.6 percent in June, well above the national average for the whole population. But for those veterans whose service is post-9/11, the rate was 13.3 percent. An estimated one million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are out of work.

That has prompted some members of Congress to propose two comprehensive packages to get veterans into jobs. At the Washington Navy Yard this morning, President Obama announced his own veterans initiative. It will require congressional approval to go into effect.

Today, Obama said in his half-hour speech, veterans are discovering that their problems don't end just because they're left Baghdad or Kandahar. Much of the reason is the tight labor market.

The White House's multi-part proposal includes:

• A "Returning Heroes" tax credit for 2012-2013. Companies that hire out-of-work veterans would receive a $2,400 tax credit, double if the veteran has been unemployed for six months or more.

• Extending for two more years the "Wounded Warriors" tax credit. This gives employers a $4,800 credit for hiring veterans with a service-connected injury, again double if the veteran has been unemployed for six months of more.

• A program of persuasion to get businesses to hire or train up to 100,000 veterans by 2013. Joining Forces, a landmark initiative led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, will lead this effort. Joining Forces, according to a White House press release, "was established to raise awareness and rally all sectors of society (individuals, businesses, communities, philanthropists, faith-based institutions, etc.) to recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans and military families and give them the opportunities and support they have earned."

• The president is also ordering the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs Department to set up a "reverse boot camp" as part of its transition program for service members when they leave the armed forces to help them get civilian jobs.

Cost of the program is estimated at $120 million for two years.

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[Tarheel_Dem]

1. Surely the Repukes can't object to this, right? Afterall, they're patriots, right?

:patriot:

[awoke_in_2003]

28. Oh, you know they will...

supporting veterans is a socialist concept, doncha know :)

[lumpy]

2. Sounds like it could be a good beginning.

Progressive.

[trueblue2007]

11. it is a fantastic beginning. Thanks Pres O.

[Whisp]

3. K&R

[arcane1]

4. "It will require congressional approval to go into effect"

So much for that idea :(

[lumpy]

5. Who really knows.

v

[Wait Wut]

6. This is fantastic.

Thank you, Mr. President. :patriot:

My son (probably) gets out in March and has a few offers lined up, but he has several buddies that aren't as prepared.

[great white snark]

23. Knew you'd be all over this thread.

Semper Fi

:hug:
:patriot:

[Kind of Blue]

25. In a family of older Marines, me too!

:patriot: Thanking your son, his buddies who I pray this helps, and Pres. Obama.

[RC]

7. The campaign season is being geared up.

Expect more like this.

[Tennessee Gal]

8. This is good. Republicans in Congress will have a hard

time explaining a "no" vote on this.

[RC]

10. How has that stopped them before?

[ClarkUSA]

12. Funds will come out of the existing budget so it will be difficult for them to invent a reason.

[awoke_in_2003]

29. no, they are very good...

at inventing reasons.

[great white snark]

9. Relatively low cost for some much needed return.

Thanks ProSense.

:patriot:

[Scurrilous]

13. K & R

:thumbsup:

[politicasista]

14. Kick

:kick: :patriot:

[treestar]

15. oh no! Something else to add to THE LIST!!

Noes! Oh noes!!!!

[emulatorloo]

16. Lol. N/t

[lunatica]

17. It's a start. A good one if it's serious.

But it's only a start.

I do, however, hate the idea that businesses need to be bribed to do something about jobs. I can foresee that they'll hire the veterans so they can get the tax breaks and then fire them a couple of months later, keeping those tax breaks.

Jesus! I'm beginning to understand their hateful actions! Excuse me while I go puke.

[JoeyT]

18. That or possibly

fire non-veterans so they can hire someone that will land them a tax break.

[strategery blunder]

19. That is my only real concern about this nt

[lunatica]

21. Another reason to puke!

Understanding Republican thinking can do that to you.

Unfortunately we're not kidding either.

[jwhitesj]

22. You have a good point

I wrote a letter to my congressperson expressing my belief that this is addressing the issue from the wrong point of view. I suggested a myriad of other options that didn't require giving corporations more tax breaks. This bill is a wolf in sheeps clothing, but because it helps veterans, people can't see the fault in it. I'm all for helping veternas, but there are other things we can do to help veternas that don't create more tax loopholes for corporate America.

[Little Star]

24. [phone]

[yurbud]

20. so if a business isn't moving product, why would they hire more people because of a tax credit?

[Kind of Blue]

26. KnR. Thanks!

[Armstead]

27. Good as far as it goes, which isn't very far. Hardly worth the hoopla

Tax credits are all well and good, but businesses aren't going hire them if they don't need them.


"A program of persuasion to get businesses to hire or train up to 100,000 veterans by 2013." Okay, I guess it's better then trying to persuade them not to hire vets.


Atmospherics when compared to the need for real work programs for vets and everyone else. But since we've foreclosed that possibility, any pebble in the pile will help, I suppose.

[awoke_in_2003]

30. too late to R, here's a kick. nt