Post by pavel on Jan 8, 2016 22:37:11 GMT -6
Why President Obama picked Baton Rouge for his State of the Union tour
President Barack Obama's decision to appear in Baton Rouge on Thursday (Jan. 14) is closely tied to the state's performance in unemployment and Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards' decision to accept Medicaid expansion.
The White House touted President Obama plans to discuss the progress Louisiana has made reducing its unemployment rate: It's fallen two points, to 6.3 percent, since the recession began, and the state has added 108,000 jobs. Obama's also likely to discuss the fact that 45,000 jobs have been created in the Baton Rouge area.
The president's visit will come two days after his final State of the Union address. Obama has made a tradition of visiting American cities after his big speech to a joint session of Congress; last year, he made appearances in Boise, Idaho, and Lawrence, Kan.
Louisiana hasn't made the progress some other states have, however. The day before he comes to Baton Rouge, Obama will visit Omaha, Neb., where the unemployment rate has fallen to 2.9 percent. In fact, Louisiana's unemployment rate has trended upward in recent months, driven by low energy prices.
Continue reading at www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/obama_visit_baton_rouge.html#incart_most-comments .
President Barack Obama's decision to appear in Baton Rouge on Thursday (Jan. 14) is closely tied to the state's performance in unemployment and Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards' decision to accept Medicaid expansion.
The White House touted President Obama plans to discuss the progress Louisiana has made reducing its unemployment rate: It's fallen two points, to 6.3 percent, since the recession began, and the state has added 108,000 jobs. Obama's also likely to discuss the fact that 45,000 jobs have been created in the Baton Rouge area.
The president's visit will come two days after his final State of the Union address. Obama has made a tradition of visiting American cities after his big speech to a joint session of Congress; last year, he made appearances in Boise, Idaho, and Lawrence, Kan.
Louisiana hasn't made the progress some other states have, however. The day before he comes to Baton Rouge, Obama will visit Omaha, Neb., where the unemployment rate has fallen to 2.9 percent. In fact, Louisiana's unemployment rate has trended upward in recent months, driven by low energy prices.
Continue reading at www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/obama_visit_baton_rouge.html#incart_most-comments .