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Obama to Address Economy in Labor Day Speech

   VOA News 06 September 2010

Photo: AP

   President  Barack  Obama gestures during a back yard gathering to talk
   about the U.S. economy in Clintonville, Ohio, 18 Aug 2010

   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama is set to mark the Labor Day holiday by
   speaking to union workers about the economy.
   In  remarks  in  the state of Wisconsin, the president will announce a
   new  infrastructure  plan  to  expand the nation's roads, railways and
   runways.  The  plan  is  also  to  include  a  "smart"  electric grid,
   high-speed rail lines and broadband Internet.
   The  White  House says the new plan calls for an initial investment of
   $50  billion  to jump-start job creation. Mr. Obama is expected to say
   it  will  involve  rebuilding 241,000 kilometers of roads and updating
   the  nation's  air  traffic  control  system to reduce travel time and
   delays.
   Advance  copies  of Mr. Obama's remarks include a promise to work with
   Congress  to  make sure the plan is fully paid for and will not add to
   the deficit.
   Mr. Obama's Labor Day speech comes just days after a new report showed
   the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August.

   In  his weekly address Saturday, President Obama said the holiday is a
   chance  to reaffirm a commitment to American workers. Labor Day in the
   United  States  dates back more than 100 years and is dedicated to the
   country's workers. Â
   But the holiday likely will not be a day of celebration for the nearly
   15  million Americans who remain unemployed. The labor situation looks
   much  like it did a year ago, with the unemployment rate and number of
   those without work virtually the same as they were last Labor Day.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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