This morning, President Obama urged the House to pass the $26 billion jobs bill, which could help save the jobs of 160,000 teachers nationwide, reports the Washington Post.
Standing in the Rose Garden with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and two teachers who are facing potential job loss, Obama made a case for the bill. “We can’t stand by and do nothing while pink slips are given to the men and women who educate our children and keep our communities safe,” the president said.
Republicans have criticized the legislation as another bailout that, in the end, they say will do little to boost the economy. “Everyone knows that state budgets have been hit hard and no one wants teachers to lose their jobs,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. “But where do the bailouts end?”
The House has returned from its August recess to vote on the bill. The vote is scheduled for this afternoon. Stay tuned to our homepage for the latest updates.
UPDATE: Click here for Obama’s full remarks.