Unions (almost) agree with House Republicans on jobs plan

President of the Constriction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO Mark Ayers seemed to support the Republican approach to growing jobs in a Tuesday press release.

Mr. Ayers first expressed that the AFL-CIO unions disagree with Obama’s delay of the Keystone XL pipeline. His statement says that the unions “have been steadfast supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that is truly ‘shovel-ready’ and a privately funded endeavor that would put significant numbers of American skilled craft professionals back to work under a project agreement that ensures safe and efficient construction.”

That’s exactly what Republicans have been saying. The XL pipeline is a jobs and revenue producing monster that needs to be let loose – only Obama stands in the way.

The union executive did have one point of contention – he didn’t like the fact that Republicans put the pipeline in as a part of the Middle Class tax relief and Job Creation Act of 2011. In the bill, unemployment insurance is extended, but only if Obama allows the pipeline to pass. The unions are clearly worried that Obama will choose politics and party over the good of the nation.

The union solution? Ayers demands that, “President Obama should immediately grant a presidential permit for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and congressional Republicans should craft and pass a ‘clean’ unemployment insurance extension.”

The President has so-far been reluctant to concede any ground or negotiate on any point. It is unlikely that Mr. Ayers’ proposal stands a chance – although, it doesn’t sound a whole lot different than the Republican jobs bill .. does it?