House Democrats Offer Election-Year Jobs Plan

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives proposed an election-year plan on Wednesday to create and keep jobs in the United States, and accused President Bush of failing to protect Americans whose jobs have been shipped overseas.

With a price tag of $125 billion over 10 years, their initiative would include steps to: eliminate tax breaks that encourage firms to send jobs abroad; help prepare Americans for emerging technologies, and provide a tax credit for companies that create jobs in the United States.

Democrats figure their proposal, similar to one by presidential candidate John Kerry), may also help them win back control of the Republican-led House in the November elections.

"We are hoping to prod them (the Bush administration)," Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat, told a news conference. "What we really hope to do is change administrations in November with somebody who cares about American workers."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said, "Since President Bush took office, we have lost nearly 2 million private sector jobs," with as many as 500,000 of them estimated to have gone overseas. "President Bush has no plan to keep jobs in America," she said.

Pelosi crafted "The American Jobs Plan" with fellow Democrats and is soon expected to offer sweeping initiatives on other fronts -- from education to health care.

Republicans now control the House, holding 228 of the 435 seats. And they are favored to retain the majority, largely because of the advantages of incumbency.

Yet Democrats have been seen in recent months as having an increased chance at winning the House, particularly since polls have shown most Americans believe the nation is on the wrong track. Democrats have also been encouraged by polls that show Bush's approval ratings below 50 percent, the lowest of his presidency.

The outsourcing of American jobs has emerged as a key campaign issue. The administration issued a report last week suggesting estimates and concerns over workers losing jobs to cheaper foreign labor may be exaggerated.

Rep. Deborah Pryce of Ohio, head of the House Republican Conference, defended Bush's record and said the Democratic "anti-plan" would hurt the economy.

"For Democrats, if all signs point to growth and prosperity, it's time to undo every sound policy leading to that economic boom," Pryce said.

Miller said, "With more than 8 million people looking for work and long-term unemployment at a 20 year high, no amount of mathematical gymnastics can hide the fact that the economy has failed millions of middle-class families."

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