President Barack Obama, in a Labor Day speech downtown, hinted Monday he would unveil a road and bridge building plan later this week to put people back to work, jumpstart the economy and rally support among union workers.

The speech was short on details, long on pledges of solidarity and filled with reminders of Obama's role in an $85 billion auto-industry bailout as he tried to boost flagging support in what could be a battleground state in the November 2012 presidential election.

"We are laying out a new way forward on jobs to grow the economy and put more Americans back to work," he said.

Obama said he would continue to fight for collective bargaining and oppose right-to-work legislation.

"When I hear some of this talk, I know it's not about economics, it's about politics," he said.

That theme served as a commentary on actions by Gov. Rick Snyder, the Republican-controlled state Legislature and governors in other Midwestern states, said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics.

"It was kind of a call-to-arms," Ballenger said. "Solidarity between the president and labor: That was the impression he was trying to leave."

Much has changed since Obama's last Labor Day speech in Detroit in 2008 as a candidate courting Michigan's union base. Since then, the job market has worsened in Detroit, where one in four is unemployed, and Obama's support has dipped dramatically in the state that put America on wheels.

Obama praised public union workers for agreeing to "tough concessions" in light of the recession and its effects on state and local budgets.

"Unions understand the world is changing," he said. "Unions understand the need to drive the change. But what unions also know is that the values at the core of the union movement, those don't change. Those are the values that made this country great. That's what the folks who are trying to undermine your rights don't understand."

Hints at jobs plan

During the 25-minute speech to estimated 13,000 labor supporters in the shadow of General Motors Co.'s world headquarters, Obama teased the crowd by promising to share details on his infrastructure improvement plan to be revealed Thursday, when he is scheduled to address Congress.

"We've got roads and bridges across the country that need rebuilding," Obama said. "We've got private companies with the equipment and the manpower to do the building. We've got more than 1 million unemployed construction workers ready to get dirty right now. There is work to be done and workers to do it. We just need Congress to get on board."

He also is expected to seek an extension of the payroll tax cut.

Robert Rossana, a Wayne State University economics professor, criticized the few details Obama did offer about his jobs plan.

A proposed infrastructure bank, which would work with the private sector on longer-term projects, amounts to more federal spending, he said, and "my guess is that's not going to fly."

And extending the payroll tax cut has little if any effect on improving the economy, Rossana said.
Instead, Washington should roll back "the regulatory environment that's choking people to death," he said.
Before the president took the stage, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis echoed Obama's comments. "We can't afford not to rebuild this great country," she said.

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, said that by opposing anti-labor efforts, "we can lift up Detroit, working families and America."

Union solidarity

Members of Michigan's congressional delegation took turns on stage, firing up the crowd before Obama's appearance.

The atmosphere at the president's speech felt like a campaign rally, with supporters dressed in DayGlo-bright union T-shirts and chanting, "four more years."

"As long as I'm in the White House, I'm going to stand up for collective bargaining," Obama said.

Obama recounted several highlights of his first term, including the signing of a middle class tax cut, and financial and health care reforms. He also touted his administration's investment in high-tech manufacturing, pointing to the budding advanced battery industry in western Michigan.

"We stood by the auto industry.And we made some tough choices that were necessary to make it succeed," he said.

"On Thursday, we're going to lay out a new way forward on jobs to grow the economy and put more Americans back to work right now."

Erika King, political science professor at Grand Valley State University, said Obama's speech succeeded in revving up a union base that may have felt overlooked.

Though waning in numbers, energized union support is vital for a Democratic candidate not only for members' votes but for their campaign network.

"It's the perfect Labor Day moment for Obama," King said.

Obama took on a more fighting tone than usual and delivered a strong message that he remains on the side of unions, she said.

Unemployment still high

Charles Ballard, an economics professor at Michigan State University, praised Obama's push for infrastructure investment.

"That makes a lot of sense, because lots of roads and bridges need repair, and American has lots of unemployed construction workers," Ballard said.

Ballard said Obama has "an impressive list" of accomplishments so far, and it's smart for the president to focus on these since the economy is not likely to improve much by Election Day 2012.

"Regardless of the success of the proposals he unveils on Thursday, it is likely that the unemployment rate will remain stubbornly high for some time," Ballard said.

Michigan's unemployment rate remains higher than the national average at 10.9 percent and is only slightly improved since Obama took office in January 2009.

Republicans criticized the appearance as a campaign stop and said he's losing support of labor, a key group he'll need help from to win in 2012.

"Instead of focusing on jobs, focusing in on the economy, he's in love with giving speeches and campaigning," GOP National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said.

Numbers falling

The speech offered a chance to rally support among Michigan's union workers, whose numbers continue to plummet.

Union membership is down from 21.1 percent of the state's work force in 2001 to 16.5 percent today and 627,000 members.

Still, membership in Michigan — a battleground state — is higher than the 12 percent national average.

"A lot of people in labor are not all that enthused about Obama and don't feel he's done for them what they thought and hoped he'd do," Ballenger said. "But if you contrast Obama with (Wisconsin Gov.) Scott Walker and Rick Snyder, all of a sudden he's looking a lot better."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110906/POLITICS03/109060338/Obama-in-Detroit--Time-to-rebuild