Georgia Works: Boehner, Cantor Embrace Possible Obama Plan For Long-Term Jobless

WASHINGTON -- Republican leaders in Congress on Tuesday offered their support for a plan the White House is considering to help the 6 million long-term jobless get back to work.

The Obama administration has suggested it is looking at a program called Georgia Works, which allows businesses to train jobless participants for eight weeks without having to pay them. The program is voluntary for workers and businesses.

"Reportedly your administration is looking at the 'Georgia Works' program as a potential model" for reforming the unemployment insurance system, wrote House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) in a Tuesday letter to President Obama outlining possible areas of agreement on job creation.

"As you may recall, we suggested adoption of a 'Georgia Works' type program during our discussion of efforts to help the economy back in December of 2009 (White House meeting on December 9th and subsequent letter on December 22nd)," Boehner and Cantor continued. "We continue to stand ready to work with you to implement common-sense reforms in this area."

The program is only open to workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits. During recessions, the federal government pays benefits for jobless workers who run out of the standard six months of state benefits without finding work. The current federal extended benefits, which can provide up to 73 weeks of extra benefits, are set to expire in January. The White House may be considering implementing something similar to Georgia Works as part of a bargain to reauthorize the extended benefits, which cannot be done without Republican support.

Though state officials have said most workers who go through on-the-job training via Georgia Works later wind up with jobs, there is almost no data backing the claim. Labor advocates worry the program exploits workers by giving free labor to businesses.

The Georgia Department of Labor said that as of last week, there were just 19 people enrolled.

While the White House has repeatedly refused to comment on the specifics of Obama's upcoming jobs speech, the administration has not denied it is looking at Georgia Works.

HuffPost readers: Participated in Georgia Works? Tell us about it -- email [e-mail]. Please include your phone number if you're willing to do an interview.

Comments

[yogfthagen]

02:50 PM on 09/18/2011

If businesses are unable or unwilling to train their own workforce, they DESERVE to fail.

[marinatha]

04:51 PM on 09/10/2011

I do not expect anything out of the Rep.No cooperation,not telling the truth,misdirection,disinformation.And guess what? I have not been DISAPPOINTED. You cannot work with someone who lies its just that simple.

[Fred Landrum]

07:42 AM on 09/08/2011

As a two-year employer participant, I have to say that many of you are missing the positive points on this program. First, employers don't get "free" labor. Participants get FREE training (as opposed to paying tuitiion for tech school or community college courses). There are significant training costs to the employers, not to mention hiring costs (background screening, drug testing etc.). Secondly, participants get actual experience which as many of you know counts for a lot when seeking a job. That said, there must be some limitations and guidelines to insure that employers do not take advantage. I would propose that seasonal type work, i.e. retail sales, be excluded and that participating employers be required to administer a formal training program that is identical to that which is administered to regular trainees.

The really interesting part of this is that the Dems and Reps may actually agree on something for a change.

[bsherman]

09:43 PM on 09/07/2011

So let's see, businesses get 100% free labor for 8 weeks with no obligation at the end. What's to prevent them from saying goodbye to the worker once the free time is up and getting another unemployed worker after that?

[Fewkes]

08:04 PM on 09/07/2011

Spending money to train workers is backwards. Investing that money and much more on repairing our infrastructure would create the jobs that would give workers the money to spend that would create the demand that would in turn create jobs organically. That money rippling through the economy would also create jobs in the same way.

[tmispy]

07:34 PM on 09/07/2011

Of course they do, they don't have any plan of their own.

[sharingnews]

07:42 PM on 09/07/2011

You mean liberal, Progressive Dems complaining to their Republican House Rep have no plans? I don't like him either, but accusing them of wanting something done because they have no plans? Ouch.

[CrzyRussell]

06:54 PM on 09/07/2011

It's a good opportunity for people with little or no skills. It will give the an advantage over those who just stay home.

[sixtieschild]

12:47 AM on 09/08/2011

Yep. It boils down to that.

[JoannainPA]

05:30 PM on 09/07/2011

I won't hold my breath.

[dimplesmile7]

03:54 PM on 09/07/2011

The republican senators and congress people went home to very angry constituents during their break. Many republicans at home want them to support a jobs bill. They are underpressure by the tea party to oppose any President Obama bills. They eventually will have to pick a side and stop trying to please everyone. Many are threatening not to vote republican in 2012. They are scared and that is the only reason for the agreement with President Obama.

[sharingnews]

04:12 PM on 09/07/2011

Really? Because I live in IL and the only people I know that are still pro-Obama are my Progressive cousins who compared him to Je sus. No, everyone we talk to says they won't vote for him again. There is only one person worse than Obama running: Mitt Romney (who is as far from centrist as any other like-minded Corporatist- a Progressive one at that).

[secUnd3r]

04:25 PM on 09/07/2011

So what you are saying is you aren't going to vote.

[JoannainPA]

05:31 PM on 09/07/2011

I'm pro

[sharingnews]

03:29 PM on 09/07/2011

Silly GOP obstructionists, agreeing with Barack Obama.

[kirazmazzone]

03:11 PM on 09/07/2011

If the GOP likes it, guaranteed it's only good for Corporate profit and not a good plan. Getting free labor? of course the GOP likes it.

[sharingnews]

03:28 PM on 09/07/2011

Even though it's Obama's idea? So Obama likes it, is he part of the GOP???

[secUnd3r]

04:27 PM on 09/07/2011

President Obama decided to cut out the middle man- the "mom and dad have a fight in public" part. They are just going straight for the make-up sex now.

[Irvin Spencer]

03:11 PM on 09/07/2011

Don't really see the benefit of the program, what are you really going to learn in eight weeks. Employers, will get free labor, and still not hire people. They get an E for effort though

[admrob]

04:32 PM on 09/07/2011

The goal is free labor for the corporate overlords.

[PARepublican]

02:05 PM on 09/07/2011

I hope the Dems don't try to defund social security with a payroll tax break

[sharingnews]

03:30 PM on 09/07/2011

Oh, wait...

[desipik]

01:55 PM on 09/07/2011

NYS unemployment is 26 weeks. That's it. Nada.

[Johnmgq]

02:11 PM on 09/07/2011

Yeah but three times the amount of other states like florida

[rory talbot]

01:41 PM on 09/07/2011

Common Ground Between Obama, GOP? Of course...they both believe in trickle down.

[yogfthagen]

02:55 PM on 09/18/2011

I don't know if Obama believes in trickle-down economics. But he is tailoring his message to get things through Congress.
The final result is, of course, that Obama's bills look like they were written by the far right wing of the GOP.