Four saving words: ‘pass this jobs bill’

Unemployment now stands at 9.1 percent, there are 14 million Americans currently out of work and there are four words that the College Democrats at UCF believe can help alleviate these dismal statistics — "pass this jobs bill."

That phrase was repeated by our president eight times in his speech on Thursday, Sept. 8. The bill he is referring to is a bold and necessary proposal to get Americans working and ensure this nation can keep moving forward. It's called the American Jobs Act, and it turns a tremendous challenge into a new opportunity for the United States.

The American Jobs Act, according to President Barack Obama, includes proposals "supported by both Democrats and Republicans," and will invest $447 billion in the American infrastructure, economy and people. According to the president, everything in this bill will be paid for with a combination of spending cuts, responsible reforms to social programs and tax reform. This ensures that the middle class does not carry the burden of this recovery and that the wealthiest of Americans pay their fair share in taxes.

This proposal transcends political parties and ideologies. It is a proposal designed for the American people and the future of this nation rather than the future of any politician or party. It's designed to serve small businesses, veterans, students, teachers, police officers, firefighters, construction workers and the long-term unemployed. The American Jobs Act is a bill designed to serve everyday Americans, not the politicians or the top-2 percent.

It would provide a payroll tax cut to employers with an emphasis on small businesses. The bill proposes to modernize our nation's crumbling infrastructure, including modernizing at least 35,000 public schools, as well as roads and even investing in high-speed rails projects. These proposals would get Americans back to work and create a forward-moving America for future generations.

The American Jobs Act would help Americans facing foreclosure refinance their mortgages with record-low interest rates, helping them keep their homes in desperate times. It would also provide tax credits to employers who hire the long-term unemployed, helping to end discrimination by potential employers.

According to Politico, some economists say that if passed the job plan can add 1.9 million jobs and grow the economy by 2 percent. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, said this plan could even cut the unemployment rate by a percentage point.

We at the College Democrats at UCF can only repeat the same phrase stated by our president – "pass this jobs bill."

We often forget that our elected officials are not only "politicians," but that they are also public servants. They are hired by the American people to serve the American people. They were not elected by us to do what is popular in their party or what will bring them the largest donors. They are elected to work for the American people, and what the American people want right now is for Congress to pass a jobs bill.

Public servants are put in office to protect those that often times do not have the resources to protect themselves: students, teachers, veterans, minorities and the unemployed. The American Jobs Act does exactly that. It has developed strategies to help struggling small employers and struggling employees. It sets goals that can move this nation in a new direction, creating jobs and a sustainable infrastructure for continued growth.

We urge you to call your members of Congress and deliver the same message as Obama: pass this jobs bill. The American Jobs Act puts people before politics, provides common sense solutions to exacerbating problems and finds opportunities to keep moving forward in every challenge. Congress should pass this jobs bill, and they should do so as soon as possible.