Common sense ideas to create jobs in Maine

By Tom Vilsack
    There is no doubt that these have been tough times. And it’s very tough for the many Americans who are looking for work. So we’ve got to keep finding ways to help the unemployed in the short term and rebuild the middle class over the long term.
    President Obama has focused on that challenge since his first day in office. And it’s why he spoke to Congress to lay out the way forward to grow the economy and create jobs.
    The American Jobs Act he proposed will have an immediate impact. It contains common-sense ideas that will create jobs now. And it is based on bipartisan ideas that both Democrats and Republicans have supported in the past.
    Americans living rural communities know that the specific ideas in the bill work.
    Too many of our rural areas are dealing with crumbling infrastructure. They know the benefits of rebuilding local roads and bridges and of improving rail lines and water systems. And our rural construction workers are ready to get their hands dirty and get back on the job.
    The small businesses that employee most Americans in small towns know that the tax cuts in the bill will mean more work, so they can expand and hire. They understand why it’s especially important to put our returning veterans back to work. And every working family in rural America will benefit from money back in their pockets.
    Small town and county governments know they can use the support to keep folks on payroll. Teachers need to be kept on the job preparing our children for a better future. Firefighters and other first responders need to work to keep our families safe.
    Most importantly, folks in rural America know that in difficult times, we should come together to hammer out a solution that benefits everyone. And elected leaders in Washington need to do the same as they work to support job growth and build a stronger future for all Americans.
    Tom Vilsack is agriculture secretary in the President Obama Administration.