Obama has spoketh, therefore it is true.
Via The Hill
President Obama on Wednesday slammed House Republicans for offering a budget that is “a path to prosperity for those who have already prospered.”
One day after House Republicans offered a budget plan that would slash $5.5 trillion in spending over the next 10 years while cutting healthcare and domestic programs, the president traveled to Cleveland, a manufacturing stronghold located in an important battleground state.
Obama said the programs in the GOP’s crosshairs have helped jump-start the economy, and took credit for signs that the economy is recovering.
“I’m going to take a little credit,” Obama said during a speech to the City Club of Cleveland.
The president noted “there was a lot of resistance and obstruction” from Republicans to his administration’s policies, “but we decided to continue to advance.”[…]
He also defended trade deals his administration is negotiating with Asian nations, which have angered fellow Democrats and labor unions who argue the deals could lead to the elimination of U.S. jobs.
Obama said the deals would include strong labor and environmental language and would give the U.S. a leg up on China in establishing trade guidelines.
A trio of Ohio lawmakers who are critical of Obama’s trade policies, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Reps. Marcia Fudge and Marcy Kaptur (D), accompanied the president in Cleveland.
Before his speech, Obama toured the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET), a Cleveland-based nonprofit group that advises manufacturers. He said the GOP budget proposal would slash funding for the programs that funds MAGNET.
The plan contains $1.1 trillion in cuts to non-mandatory programs, and Democrats say that could decimate social programs such as food stamps and Pell grants.
The White House announced Wednesday a new $320 million competition for nonprofit groups in 12 states to provide technological consulting to small manufacturers, similar to MAGNET’s mission. The funding would be spread over five years, and half would come from private sources. Another $120 million is up for grabs for manufacturers, universities and nonprofits to create a manufacturing innovation hub focused on advanced textiles for the military.
The president’s $4 trillion budget plan includes a $350 million request to launch seven new manufacturing institutes next year, which would boost innovation and job training. That would add to nine manufacturing hubs already funded through this year, and the White House has called for full funding to create 45 institutes around the country.
Republicans defended their budget proposal as a vehicle for getting deficits and debt under control while accelerating job growth.