Obama pushes USD 447 jobs package in Colorado

On a mission to promote his massive USD 447 billion Jobs bill, US President Barack Obama late Tuesday told voters in Colorado that spending money now will pay off later in US global productivity and competitiveness. He touted one of the biggest investments he is proposing comes in education, while speaking at Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver, Colorado. Obama's jobs package includes USD 30 billion to renovate high schools and community colleges nationwide, and an additional USD 30 billion to help local jurisdictions hire and retain teachers. On Tuesday, Obama wrapped up three days of highlighting the education proposals and putting public pressure on congressional Republicans to support the jobs bill. "Places like South Korea are adding teachers in droves to prepare their kids for the global economy. We're laying ours off left and right," Obama said. "All across the country, budget cuts are forcing superintendents to make choices they don't want to make. .?.?. It's unfair to our kids; it undermines their future; it has to stop." The stimulus bill comes as the administration is also aiming to reduce the federal deficit by an additional USD 3 trillion over the coming decade. To help pay for the jobs package, the White House has proposed eliminating many tax loopholes and write-offs for individuals earning more than USD 200,000 and families earning more than USD 250,000. However, as Republicans have agreed with the president on the tax breaks, they have pushed back on the idea that new spending will help solve the nation's problems