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March 28, 2024

Obama pushes tax credit program during UNLV speech

Obama UNLV Speech

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

President Barack Obama delivers a speech calling for Congress to expand a tax credit program for energy manufacturing jobs Friday, July 9, 2010 at UNLV.

Updated Friday, July 9, 2010 | 3:19 p.m.

Obama Pushes Clean Energy Tax Credits

President Obama pushes for clean energy tax credits during a speech at UNLV Friday morning.

President Obama Energy Speech at UNLV

President Barack Obama delivers a speech calling for Congress to expand a tax credit program for energy manufacturing jobs Friday, July 9, 2010 at UNLV. Launch slideshow »

Obama Leaves Las Vegas

Air Force One sits on the tarmac at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas Thursday. Launch slideshow »

President Obama Campaigns For Reid

President Barack Obama speaks at the Aria resort Thursday night campaigning for Senator Harry Reid.

Obama Campaigns for Reid

President Barack Obama is thanked by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid after a campaign speech July 8, 2010, at Aria. Launch slideshow »

After an evening of campaigning for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, President Obama called on Congress this morning to expand a clean energy tax credit program to create jobs during a speech at UNLV.

Obama called on Congress to expand a tax credit program for advanced clean energy manufacturing jobs. Eligible would be solar projects that Reid has been promoting heavily in Nevada as a way to capitalize on the state's scorching climate and cut down on pollution from coal.

Obama said a $5 billion investment would create nearly 40,000 jobs. (Full text of Obama's speech at UNLV)

Obama said his goal is to break down barriers standing in the way of innovation and give incentives to businesses to grow and expand. He said clean energy manufacturing tax credits are an example of efforts to stimulate private businesses.

"The greatest generator of jobs in America is our private sector, it's not government ... And that's why one of the first things we did was cut dozens of taxes for middle class and small business people," Obama said.

While Obama applauded both Democrats and Republicans for supporting his call for the expanded tax credits, he took a swipe at GOP lawmakers, saying similar bipartisan support has been absent from many of the other efforts he and Reid have promoted, from the massive health care overhaul to Wall Street reform.

"At every turn, we've met opposition and obstruction from leaders across the aisle," he said.

Obama also used the Friday speech to promote Reid's re-election efforts, saying the majority leader is fighting on behalf of "not those who are powerful," but for the middle class and Nevadans in need. He said Reid helped to stop the economic freefall brought on by a "decade of misguided policies."

The president said some tough times are ahead for Nevada and the nation, but the country is on the path to recovery.

"We are headed in the right direction, we are headed forward," Obama said. "We are not going to move backwards."

Obama spoke to about 550 people in the audience, along with officials from a solar panel manufacturer called Amonix that's opening a new facility in Las Vegas with help from the tax credits. The president's remarks come at a time when Nevada's unemployment rate and rate of home foreclosures lead the nation.

Rep. Dina Titus, Secretary of State Ross Miller and UNLV President Neil Smatresk were among the dignitaries in the audience.

The invitation-only speech lasted about 18 minutes and was similar to Thursday evening's speech at CityCenter's Aria.

The president began his remarks at about 9:35 a.m., wrapping up his two-day swing through Missouri and Nevada. He departed from McCarran at about 10:25 a.m.

Reid introduced Obama on Friday, boasting of his own accomplishments and those of Congress. He said Nevada's economy has been tested like never before, and the solution is to react by "renewing the future and not repeating the past."

The UNLV speech followed a Thursday evening fundraiser for Reid at a packed ballroom at the Aria resort. Obama offered high praise for Reid, who is facing a tough re-election bid against Republican Sharron Angle.

Obama lifted the spirits of the standing room-only political rally when he called Reid a fighter for Nevada who cares about working class families.

“He’s a man of principle,” Obama said. “He’s a man of his word. He comes across soft spoken. But anyone who knows Harry knows he’s made of strong stuff. He’s one tough guy.”

The president credited Reid with orchestrating what Obama called the greatest legislative session in the history of Congress, one that included health care reform and tax breaks for 95 percent of Americans.

Air Force One arrived at McCarran International Airport at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, about 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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