Obama planning to invest billions to retrain workers

At the same time, Pres. Obama is leading the charge to make the business environment even more onerous through energy taxes, health care taxes, and mountains of regulations. Who do you supposed will actually employ all of these retrained workers?

The Free Press editors agree [click on image for larger view... use "CTRL +" for further enlargement]:

Obama planning to invest billions to retrain workers [from The Detroit Free Press electronic version]

He is to give details today in Warren on funds for classes online, at colleges

By TODD SPANGLER and ROBIN ERB FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS President Barack Obama returns to Michigan today 285 days after his last trip to the state, with a speech in Warren and a plan to pump up commu­nity colleges. Obama administration offi­cials declined to provide de­tails Monday, but the digital newsletter Inside Higher Ed reported that the administra­tion was working on a plan to offer free online classes, $9 bil­lion over 10 years to help com­munity colleges develop pro­grams and a $10-billion low- or no-interest loan fund for facil­ities. “A lot of our colleges are bursting at the seams,” said Mike Hansen, president of the Michigan Community College Association. Top community college offi­cials from around the nation, many of whom were at a con­ference this week in Traverse City, were flying in for today’s announcement. Mary Sue Coleman, president of the Uni­versity of Michigan, also was invited. With its huge numbers of recently unemployed workers who need training for new jobs, Michigan offers a perfect ven­ue to make such an announce­ment. He has had deep involve­ment with Michigan as the na­tion’s 44th president even if this is his first visit. His administration has tak­en an equity stake in General Motors Co. and Chrysler­Group LLC and — along with the money committed by the Bush White House — injected about $85 billion into the car­makers to help them survive. Obama's plan for more education could boost metro Detroit Retraining, associate degrees are key for laid-off autoworkers By TODD SPANGLER FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama tipped his hand Sunday in an article he wrote for the Washington Post. America's community colleges need to be fixed "so that they provide Americans of all ages a chance to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to compete for the jobs of the future." He said he would be talking about his plans this week. That would be at 3:40 p.m. this afternoon at Macomb County Community College's Warren campus. An administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the economy dictates what needs to change. "Jobs requiring at least an associate degree are projected to grow twice as fast as those requiring no college experience," the official said. Based on comments he made during his presidential campaign and reiterated in a report issued Monday by the president's Council of Economic Advisers, it's likely Obama is to talk about the importance of linking the types of 2-year degrees to the needs of the local economy. Noting training needs in health care, construction and alternative energy technologies, the report said that jobs requiring 2year associate degrees are expected to grow faster than those requiring bachelor's degrees in the next six years. Obama's visit comes at a time when the relationship between the White House and the state is as intertwined as ever. About $85 billion in taxpayer money has been committed to help Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Co. survive, and the governments of the United States and Canadahold, together, a majority share in GM, which just last week came out of bankruptcy court. The new companies will be far leaner than they were before, meaning thousands of job losses - from line workers to auto dealers. Many of the people listening to Obama's speech at the Robert E. Turner Advanced Technology Center at thecampus on 12 Mile Road will be waiting for additional word on the auto industry and what's next. Although Obama has said he doesn't want a direct role in running an auto company, with the taxpayer investment, he will be considered in charge by many. As job losses deepen - Michigan's 14.1% unemployment rate in May led the nation - it could hurt his popularity. Sande Frost, a 51-year-old manager at Telly's Restaurant in Warren, said she's a supporter of the president and is still waiting for the change that was promised. GM cutbacks, she said, have hurt badly. "We used to have a lot" of workers come into the restaurant, she said. "Now they're getting laid off. They're scared to come in." Warren Mayor Jim Fouts said he plans to talk up his desire for GM to consolidate headquarters in his city, if he gets a chance. As for Obama's efforts so far, Fouts figures "he's doing the right thing." "The alternative," he said, "would be devastating." CONTACT TODD SPANGLER: 202-906-8203 OR TSPANGLER@FREEPRESS.COM ALEX BRANDON/Associated Press President Barack Obama wrote an article Sunday for the Washington Post saying that America's community colleges need to be fixed.