U.S. President Barack Obama
reiterated his call on Saturday to make the government more
efficient and assist companies to bring jobs back to the U.S. from
abroad.
"Right now, we have a 21st century, but we've still got a
government organized for the 20th century," Obama said in his weekly
radio and Internet address. "Over the years, the needs of Americans
have changed, but our government has not. In fact, it's gotten even
more complex. And that has to change."
He proposed on Friday to merger six trade and commerce agencies
into one to make the federal government more streamlined and
efficient. Officials said that 1000 to 2000 jobs would be cut
through the attrition.
"These changes will make it easier for small business owners to
get the loans and support they need to sell their products around
the world," Obama noted, urging the U.S. congress to reinstate the
authority that past presidents have had to streamline and reform the
executive branch.
Obama brought several U.S.-made products with him for his weekly
video today -- a padlock, a pair of boots, a candle and a pair of
socks -- to demonstrate his commitment to boost U.S. manufacturing.
He also repeated his promise to put forward new tax proposals to
reward companies that choose to bring jobs home and invest in
America, and eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs
overseas.
Obama met with business leaders on Wednesday to explore the ways
to give companies more incentives to bring jobs back to America. He
pushed the congress to extend the payroll tax cut this year and
vowed to do more.
