Restarting the American Jobs Engine

Ensuring that Americans have the opportunity to get back to work as soon as possible

Everywhere I go, people tell me that our economy will not get better until we get back the jobs we've lost during the last three years. That's why, when I decided to run for President, the first proposal I announced was my jobs plan. I am very optimistic about the American economy. When everything goes right, America's talented workers and entrepreneurs create millions and millions of jobs each year. But under President Bush, 3 million private-sector jobs have been lost, the worst job losses under any President since Herbert Hoover.

Instead of seriously addressing this problem, President Bush has obsessively and irresponsibly pursued the only policy he believes in: tax breaks for the rich. While working families worry about job security and the unemployed struggle to find work, President Bush rewards wealthy campaign contributors with tax breaks that hurt the middle class and do nothing to create jobs.

I have a real plan to let America get back to work. My three-part strategy devotes $100 billion over two years to jumpstart job creation without increasing the deficit:

1. Invest in homeland and hometown security. First, I'll create a $40 billion Homeland Security Fund. We'll use the fund to take crucial, immediate steps to secure the country-and create jobs in the process.

2. Help states in fiscal crisis. Second, I'll create a $40 billion State and Local Tax Rebate Fund to relieve pressure on state budgets, helping them to avoid property tax increases and tuition hikes.

3. Grow jobs, especially in manufacturing. Finally, I'll promote incentives for job creation and remove barriers to job growth, especially in manufacturing - where America has lost 2.5 million jobs under President Bush.

To create the conditions for sustained growth, these short-term stimulus measures must be coupled with long-term deficit reduction. It's no accident that the 1990s-when we reduced the deficit and eventually balanced the budget-were also years of unrivaled prosperity and job creation in the private sector. My "Saving for America's Future" plan will save $2.35 trillion over 10 years to invest in priorities and cut the deficit, creating the conditions for long-term growth and prosperity.

Please click here to see the full details of my job creation plan.

Please click here to see the full details of my "Saving for America's Future" plan.