Obama reaches out to business

Obama reaches out to business

Obama

   President Barack Obama travels across Lafayette Square today to address the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation's top business lobbying group and a strong critic of many Obama administration policies.
   In recent weeks Obama has signaled a more pro-business outlook, ordering a deregulatory review across the government, appointing financial industry official William Daley as chief of staff and promoting export manufacturing, especially in new industrial sectors such as clean energy production.
   In his weekly address to the nation on Saturday, Obama discussed how the government should nurture the fledging 'innovation economy' that will create new jobs. Tax credits, grants and financing can help spur research and development, and help companies turn inventions into marketable products, he said.
   'Our government has an obligation to make sure that America is the best place on Earth to do business — that we have the best schools, the best incentives to innovate, and the best infrastructure,' Obama said, adding that the responsibilities are mutual.
   'Supporting businesses with this kind of 21st century infrastructure and cutting-edge innovation is our responsibility. But businesses have a responsibility, too. If we make America the best place to do business, businesses should make their mark in America. They should set up shop here, and hire our workers, and pay decent wages, and invest in the future of this nation. That's their obligation.' ' Eric Kulisch