Wilson, Others Unimpressed With Obama Jobs Plan

Speaking before a joint session of Congress Thursday night, President Barack Obama outlined a $447 billion program to spur job creation.

Among the many provisions in the Administration's proposed "American Jobs Act?" Numerous tax cuts and credits, infrastructure improvements and new construction, financial aid to states and municipalities to retain teachers, policemen, and firefighters, and reforms to the federal unemployment insurance program.

(Click here for details of the President's plan.)

However, for the most part, Republicans seemed unimpressed, especially South Carolina's top Republicans, despite Obama's forceful rhetoric and exhortation to "pass this jobs plan right away!"

Sen. Lindsey Graham reportedly "chuckled" at the President. 

Sen. Jim DeMint didn't even bother to attend the joint-session speech, preferring instead to spend Thursday night touring the new Boeing plant in North Charleston and meeting with company officials and employees. DeMint said earlier this week he was "tired of speeches."

And Gov. Nikki Haley, appearing on Fox News, gave the plan a big thumbs down.

"I'm just terribly disappointed," she said. "I really am. Here he was, calling a joint session of Congress. It was supposed to be huge; it was supposed to be great, and what we got was a $500 billion plan he punted to a committee he doesn't even control, and said somehow it will be paid for ... just very, very disappointed."

Meanwhile, Lexington's congressman, Rep. Joe Wilson, the only member of the state's congressional delegation to release an official statement Thursday night, also panned the President's proposal.

Said Wilson:

“The past months have brought difficult times for American families: a downgrading of the country’s credit rating, an extremely volatile stock market, sinking consumer confidence in the economy, and dismal jobs reports. With more than 1.7 million jobs lost since the Administration’s last failed stimulus in February of 2009, I find it disappointing the President has waited this long to introduce a jobs program. 

“Unemployment remains at 9.1 percent with a net gain of zero jobs last month. Tonight, President Obama stated he wants to use another $447 billion taxpayer funded stimulus to launch his jobs program. The Administration’s last stimulus plan added $814 billion to our national debt. More importantly, it failed to accomplish its goal. The unemployment rate ballooned past the 8 percent mark the Administration promised the stimulus was designed to prevent. Employing this same failed approach will not only add to our nation’s debt but will also fail to provide a long term solution to America’s high unemployment rate.

“By passing numerous job promoting bills designed to encourage small businesses to hire and help with job creation, House Republicans have shown their commitment to jump starting the nation’s economy this Congress. Now is the time for Senate Democrats and the President to really help families who want jobs. Let us work together to adopt real reforms that will have an immediate impact on job creation.”