Sen. Reid Says Obama Will Push Green Jobs

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he is sure that President Barack Obama will discuss proposals for supporting energy-related green jobs during his jobs speech next week, reports the National Journal.

The Nevada Democrat said during his annual Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas that he is encouraging Obama to make a serious push for green jobs. John Podesta, president of the liberal group Center for American Progress, has urged the same.

Podesta told the National Journal that he met with Obama and urged the president to back short-term initiatives, including an Energy Department-run rebate program for investment in energy-efficient homes. The proposal, which has been referred to as “cash for caulkers,” reportedly would create construction and manufacturing jobs.

“Get those retrofits going, get those home products rolling out the door,” Podesta said. “I think there will be a lot of the support for this in Home Depots and Walmarts — 90 percent of that content is made domestically.”

Podesta clarified that he is not endorsing sweeping energy policies, such as Obama’s potential clean electricity mandate, because those would be unlikely to pass in a Republican-controlled House. Moreover, he believes that type of massive legislation would take years to have any noticeable impact on job creation.