With Executive Order, Barack Obama Plays Politics on Summer Jobs

Issuing an executive order, the Obama administration on Thursday announced a "Summer Jobs+" program that it says will "provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth in the summer of 2012."

In a statement, the White House said, "The president proposed $1.5 billion for high-impact summer jobs and year-round employment for low-income youth ages 16-24 in the American Jobs Act as part of the Pathways Back to Work fund.

"When Congress failed to act, the federal government and private sector came together to commit to creating nearly 180,000 employment opportunities for low-income youth in the summer of 2012, with a goal of reaching 250,000 employment opportunities by the start of summer, at least 100,000 of which will be placements in paid jobs and internships."

Obama & Co. could have skipped the rhetoric, helped U.S. students and saved the money by simply suspending the Summer Work Travel visa program that each year brings in more than 100,000 foreign students to take summer jobs in this country.

See Sunshine State News' story for a rundown on the controversial J-1 program.