28 January 2010

State of The Union Fact Check

Obama’s claim:

Let me repeat: we cut taxes. We cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college. As a result, millions of Americans had more to spend on gas, and food, and other necessities, all of which helped businesses keep more workers.
---------

Yet Obama fails to mention that 40% of Americans do not pay federal income taxes. Therefore it is impossible for there to be a cut for 95%. Also his other "cuts" were not really cuts, yet they were simply subsidized credits. People still paid them.

Obama’s claim:

Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. 200,000 work in construction and clean energy. 300,000 are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, and first responders. And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.
---------

This is simply not the case. According to the Cato Institute we have lost about 3 millions jobs since the so called stimulus was passed. Other sources say 4 million. Calling the stimulus a success, isn't exactly accurate.

Obama’s claim:

The plan that has made all of this possible, from the tax cuts to the jobs, is the Recovery Act. That’s right — the Recovery Act, also known as the Stimulus Bill. Economists on the left and the right say that this bill has helped saved jobs and avert disaster.
---------

Now back to reality, the stimulus was suppose to avert a disaster yes, it was made to keep unemployment below 8%. It was suppose to shoot up to 9.6% if it was not passed. Yet today, even with the stimulus, the jobless rate well exceeds both of those figures at 10%.

Obama's claim:

(paraphrase) If the republicans have any ideas as to how we can cut costs and create competition, i am willing to listen. He then went on to say that republicans have just voted 'no' this whole process and not offered up any ideas of their own.
---------

And back on planet earth, the GOP has offered up about 60 alternative bills of their own. Infact Paul Ryan's 'Patients Choice Act' was the first health reform bill offered up last winter. Also the GOP has made thousands of amendments over the summer and fall to house and senate health care bills.

No comments:

Post a Comment