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Congress' To-Do List

Get 'Er Done!

Congress must finish a few loose ends before going on summer recess.   A list of demands, outlining what is expected, comes from the Commander in Chief.


Speaking today at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering State University of New York
Albany, New York President Obama outlined what he'd like to see Congress take care of before their summer break.

Going through 'the list' Obama pointed out at five items he'd like to see get done.

"First, Congress needs to help the millions of Americans who have worked hard, made their mortgage payments on time, but still have been unable to refinance their mortgages with these historically low rates.  This would make a huge difference for the economy", explained the president.

Two, helping responsible homeowners afford their home mortgages.

Three, "Congress should help small business owners by giving them a tax break for hiring more workers and paying them higher wages."

Four, "Congress should help our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan find a good job once they come home."

The fifth item on the list: reward businesses who bring jobs back to America.

Said the president, "What we need to do now is to make it easier for more companies to do the right thing, and one place to start is our tax code.  At the moment, companies get tax breaks for moving factories, jobs and profits overseas.  They can actually end up saving on their tax bill when they make the move.  Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay here are getting hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world.  That doesn’t make sense."

The president also added that Congress should work on keeping college loan rates down, as well as pass a transportation bill that guarantees nearly a million construction workers jobs.

At his urging, the ever optimistic president said, "The good news is both parties say they want to make this happen.  We’ve done this before.  So Congress just needs to work out the details.  Don't let politics get in the way." 

The president is giving Congress a little less than 90 days to check items off the list.  The trick will be seeing if Congress acts.

"Get this done before July 1st", said president Obama.  "Those bills should be passed right now."

Click here for more on the president's Congressional 'To-Do' list.

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