But from local employers to the state's top leaders, there is little or no optimism that the plan will play here. The consensus: doesn't matter, not enough, won't work, who's footing the bill?
"It's good in concept," said Wayne Kirkwood, owner of Kirkwood Electric in Cape Coral, "but ...
"Don't get me wrong ... I won't look a gift horse in the mouth."Before leaving Washington on Monday to tout the American Jobs Act, Obama sent the legislation to Congress, exhorting lawmakers to act quickly - and positively.Key parts of the plan are trimming the payroll tax in half to 3.1 percent; building roads, bridges and schools; hiring more teachers and training teens and young adults who are unemployed.
"It is for all government-backed projects that produce no profit," said Jason Richardson, owner of Fort Myers home builder Richardson Custom Homes.
"Repairing schools, hiring new teachers, hiring new police officers, hiring new emergency responders ... et cetera. This is all very important, but all must be funded by tax-paying citizens and businesses.
"If the big money guys can't make money, if the small business guys like myself can't make money, if the employees ... can't make money, then who is going to pay for all these new jobs funded by the government?" Richardson said.
One of the major areas of the plan Obama has been pushing is the payroll tax cut, which would help employees and employers.
That alone wouldn't, though, spur Kirkwood to hire more electricians or office help.
"In reality, it would help move us back to generating profits again.
"We've had to make choices ... bleed a little or just disappear ... it would be kind of like bleeding from an open wound to a razor cut."
Kirkwood, whose family was among the first residents of Cape Coral a half century ago, said before he could add personnel to the staff of 30 he has, business would have to improve dramatically.
Source http://www.news-press.com/
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