Reaction to the president's jobs speech is pouring in. Below is a sampling:
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District
"I am pleased to hear President Obama's proposals for creating jobs for Americans, as I believe that this should be our top priority. Many of the ideas and initiatives the President spoke about tonight will help to create good, well-paying jobs, initiate and sustain economic growth, support middle class American families in these tough times. Critically, creating jobs and growing the economy are the only way to reduce our national deficit.
"I welcome the President's support for a National Infrastructure Bank, a concept I first proposed in 1994, which would leverage private dollars to invest in transportation, water, energy and telecommunications projects with clear economic, social, and environmental benefits. Such a bank would enable us to make the critical investments in modern infrastructure systems needed to create good-paying American jobs and compete in the global economy over the long-term.
"I am also pleased that the President is pursuing policies that will put people back to work now, namely improving our nation's crumbling schools, as my soon-to-be introduced Fix America's Schools Today (FAST) Act will do. This bill will immediately put Americans back to work while providing states and school districts with the funds they need to repair our nation's schools, strengthening our economy and boosting teacher and student morale and performance.
"Additionally, the President's call to extend unemployment insurance benefits for the millions of men and women who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own is a welcome reprieve. These Americans want to work; they want to find jobs, and we must give them the support they need to be successful. I am also very pleased that the concept for my Fair Employment Opportunity Act, which prevents discrimination against those who are currently unemployed and applying for work, a practice that is becoming common in many workplaces around the country, was included in the President's proposal.
"I look forward to working with the President and my colleagues to make smart, targeted investments, that will help put America back to work while rebuilding our country, supporting American families, and fueling business innovation.''
Connecticut Republican party Chairman Jerry Labriola
"What we heard tonight was a speech rich in rhetoric to launch a campaign to save a Presidency short on results.
"Rather than proposing to lift the job destroying spending and opressive over-regulation that have become a hallmark of his Presidency, Obama repackaged the same broken promises and platitudes that filled his campaign. Fourteen million unemployed Americans deserve better."