By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-988825.mp3
Dallas, TX – President Barack Obama visited North Texas today. He attended two fundraisers at a downtown Dallas hotel, and visited Eastfield College in Mesquite. There he talked about his jobs program, and urged Congress to pass it. KERA's Shelley Kofler was there.
Texas may be a red state, but the color of this crowd was true blue. Hundreds of invited Democrats as well as Eastfield students stood and cheered as the President said his legislation would put 280 thousand teachers back to work. The President was introduced by Kimberly Russell, a Dallas teacher laid off because of budget cuts. Mr. Obama said his bill would put teachers, like Russell, back in the classroom.
Obama: Here in Dallas, all across the state of Texas you've seen too many teachers lose their jobs because of budget cuts. And thousands more could be at risk in the coming year. Now understand this doesn't just hurt these teachers, it doesn't just hurt them and their families. It hurts our children.... what is at stake nothing less than our ability to compete in this 21st century economy.
The President's 447 billion dollar bill would also create jobs by spending more in infrastructure and public safety workers like firemen or police. He'd pay for that spending by closing tax loopholes on wealthier citizens. Republicans call that a tax increase, but that's a plan this crowd seemed to like.