by Christi Parsons and Peter Wallsten
Even before the deal was completed in Congress, President Barack Obama on Wednesday said evidence had already turned up that his economic rescue plan would improve the lives of American workers.
Three times during the day, the White House asserted that Caterpillar Inc., the giant maker of construction and other equipment that has laid off workers recently, would be able to rehire employees if Congress approved the stimulus bill.
But as the president prepared for a trip today to visit a Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, Ill., it was not clear how strong an example the company would provide of the job-creating powers of the stimulus bill.
The company would not say how many laid-off employees might return to work--if any--or when. Nor would it say how many workers targeted for coming layoffs might keep their jobs.
Moreover, the company would not say whether the re-hired employees woulc come from its U.S. workforce, which only makes up about half its 112,000 employees.
Obama has traveled the country this week to build support for the stimulus plan, which could reach his desk by the end of the week. Speaking Wednesday at a highway construction site in Springfield, Va., the president predicted the jobs created by his plan would "multiply across the economy."
"Caterpillar, which manufactures machines used in this project, has announced some 20,000 layoffs in the last few weeks," the president said. "Today the chairman and CEO of Caterpillar said that if the American Recovery and Reinvestment plan passes, his company would be able to rehire some of those employees."
Caterpillar officials said they had not examined the agreement on the stimulus bill hammered out by House and Senate negotiators, and as a result they would not comment on the plan.
Despite the president's victorious announcement, workers back in his home state weren't sure how to read the comments of Caterpillar's chief executive.
"He's not saying, 'I'm going to rehire U.S. employees or even Peoria employees'. ," said Rick Doty, president of the United Auto Workers Local 974, which represents thousands of Caterpillar workers. "He's just saying if [the stimulus bill] is to his liking then he'll rehire some people that they laid off. To me, it's more of a threat than anything else."
At the end of January, Caterpillar CEO Jim Owens announced that the company would cut back capital spending and eliminate nearly 20,000 workers in an effort to draw down production to match lower demand.
Wednesday afternoon, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he thought Owens had talked about the company's rehiring plans with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who until recently represented the Peoria area in Congress. Late in the day, the White House issued a press release reiterating the point that, if the stimulus plan is passed, "his company would be able to rehire some of the employees they've been forced to lay off."
Owens is expected to fly to Peoria with Obama on Air Force One on Thursday and to introduce the president at the event there. The White House is hoping for good news on Thursday and beyond.
"They did communicate to the White House a reevaluation of their employment situation based on what they see as a big investment that could be coming shortly to put American back to work," said press secretary Robert Gibbs, "and to put particularly those workers in Peoria and the downstate Illinois area in particular back to work."
Comments
What does Air Force One cost to run?
It's not just the plane, it's the advanced security,the C-130 with the limo and Secret Service cars, holding up all air taffic while going in and out of an airport, and stopping traffic every where he goes.
Is it $10 million per visit? I think I'm conservative with this estimate. What financial crisis right?
All this to scare America into buying in to his pork laden bill. A bill that even left wingers are having trouble calling "stimulus" during intervews. A bill that Congress already said it would shove down Americas throat no matter what.
Why the visits? It's because of all of the lies he came up with to get elected. Transparency, wasteful spending, come on, you all remeber these right.
He needs to convince himself that it's not a lie. He needs to continue to pitch this plan in order to sleep at night.
Posted by: Greg | February 12, 2009 8:24 AM
I worked for Cat for years as I went to college at night in Decatur, Il. It is a great company. Unfortunately, Obama and the Dems. union policies are 180 degrees opposites, as well as their global trade policies. Nearly 2/3 of Cat's income comes from foreign sales, so the Colombian free trade agreement, which Obama opposes and is being stalled by the pro-union Democratic Congress, is anti- Cat stimulus. Anti- NAFTA and free trade rhetoric is another example. Also, the company survives and prospers due to very aggressive anti-union labor contracts. Hence, Cat is moving its famed motor-grader assembly operation to a right to work state away from the strangling UAW labor friendly Il. and with the move comes the loss of many union jobs. Cat also depends on sales of diesel engines. It is dropping out of developing a new generation of diesel power plants due to the "global warming, environmental BS regulation nightmares" promoted by Obama and the Dems. These same regulations and energy policies hinder Cat's sales of its giant mining trucks. I could go on but the facts are Cat basically opposes and is hurt by nearly everything in the Obama admin. and Democrats policies represents. This is just another Obama and Axel Chicago shuffle. You lefty liberals are being "hustled", wake up to the facts not the MSM and the Obama propaganda!
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 12, 2009 8:44 AM
Wow, once Obama got his first flight in "his" executive private jet he sure enjoys taking a daily ride in it to wherever he thinks he might find an adoring supporter!
Do you suppose his ally, Al Gore, approves of his carbon footprint?
Oh, how silly of me, they are both hypocrits!
John Currey
Posted by: John Currey | February 12, 2009 8:54 AM
Wow, once Obama got his first flight in "his" executive private jet he sure enjoys taking a daily ride in it to wherever he thinks he might find an adoring supporter!
Do you suppose his ally, Al Gore, approves of his carbon footprint?
Oh, how silly of me, they are both hypocrits!
John Currey
Posted by: John Currey | February 12, 2009 8:55 AM
Bubba Porter,
You went to college for years? After reading your disjointed posts I'm not surprised you took the
Palin + 4 path to graduation.
Posted by: scrubbles | February 12, 2009 10:39 AM
So Obama overstated his case. Why am I not surprised.
Driving the country into the ground -- what he does best. But he's flying high above it in AF 1, of course.
Posted by: beth | February 12, 2009 10:40 AM
Afraid Cat and the Small Big Three will never gain back what they lost during this Democratic Recession
with Big Union and better made foriegn Competion, so is Obama going to give an Empty Suit Promise.
Posted by: Inky | February 12, 2009 10:45 AM
Wow, once Obama got his first flight in "his" executive private jet he sure enjoys taking a daily ride in it to wherever he thinks he might find an adoring supporter!
Do you suppose his ally, Al Gore, approves of his carbon footprint?
Oh, how silly of me, they are both hypocrits!
John Currey
Posted by: John Currey | February 12, 2009 8:54 AM
Can't blame Obama-
Great way to show off his EMPTY SUIT.
Posted by: Inky | February 12, 2009 11:03 AM
***********
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 12, 2009 8:44 AM
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Some of the democrats will do their standard name calling thing here, but B.P. has an insider's view. If Big Cat is in any ways like the industries that I would be familiar with, then they will NOT be quick to staff up and resurrect large capital project$. Before they do that, they will probably want to be very sure that favorable business conditions are going to last, within their ability to project. A little carrot from the government and a light on in the front door stoop generally will not be a very high confidence item for them. Mr. Owens may have been a little out in front with the p.r. side of the issue, here. Thanks for your perspective, B.P.
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | February 12, 2009 2:06 PM
It is my understanding when Air Force One leaves the ground so does a look alike so no one knows which plane the President is in and there is also a cargo plane for the Presidential limo. Wonder how big that fleet is that hauls the rest of Congress around including Princess Pelosi to San Fran on the taxpayers dime and yet they have the nerve to get on the case of business. The President and Congress are dependant on the taxpayers everyday for everything - politicians create nothing, they build nothing and that goes for both parties! Politicians are the biggest welfare cases that exist. Not too many of them leaving office to back into private business when they all can live the good life off the working man.
Posted by: vla | February 12, 2009 2:35 PM
Bubba P: The ones who criticize your posts are the ones with no concept of the economy; business; social engineering and the unintended consequences of government; and how big liberal government stymies economic growth. You need to look no further than the great state of Michigan to see what organized labor has done to decimate a once proud industry, while right to works leave MI in their wake.
Posted by: ObamabotsACTIVATE | February 12, 2009 4:02 PM