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What Obama wouldn't talk about in Chattanooga

305 views · Published 31 July 2013 · 2:51 · Indexed 17 October 2026

Channel: chattanooga times free press · 2013 · News & Politics

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President Obama came to Chattanooga to pitch a new fiscal deal to cut corporate taxes in exchange for more government spending on jobs, education and infrastructure.

Right now the U.S. corporate tax rate of up to 35 percent is one of the highest in the world. In his speech the president said it should be cut to no more than 28 percent.

Obama also continued to call for more government spending on roads, schools, research and education. He got the biggest applause when he voiced support for a higher minimum wage, immigration reform and his health care plan.

President Obama's visit to Chattanooga lasted just three hours, but it shut down an interstate, closed a million-square-foot factory and incited protesters and supporters across the state.

Air Force One landed just after noon and President Obama jogged down the stairs to shake hands with Representative Jim Cooper and Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke.

Obama took a tour of the packing floor at Amazon before beginning his speech.

What was perhaps most notable was what the president didn't mention in his speech.

Despite talk about saving the auto industry and UAW bringing jobs back to America, Obama didn't mention the Volkswagen plant across the street.

He didn't talk about Chattanooga representative Chuck Fleischmann, instead referring to Nashville Democrat Jim Cooper as quote "your congressman."

And despite talk of spending more on infrastructure, Obama didn't say a word about the Chickamauga Lock.

He mentioned a port in Florida, the air traffic control system and even the project to widen Interstate 27, but nothing about the 73-year-old lock which has seen its funding slashed in the last two federal budgets.

After the speech, Fleishmann said the lock was a perfect example of where infrastructure dollars should be spent and jobs could be created, but that the Obama administration continues to ignore the need.

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