host: the president is traveling to allentown, pennsylvania today.ces he is going to, a bakery called out in the lehigh valley, with 40 employees. one of the owners says that she is constantly getting applications for jobs. in that economy, 41,000 people out of work in allentown, what does that mean for somebody trying to hire somebody in tons of the income that they will be able to make and that competition to get the select number of jobs? guest: if you are in lehigh valley and you want to hire somebody, you obviously have a great selection. that is true for the economy as a whole. 15 million unemployed people now compared to 7 million in good times. we always have a bunch of people who are unemployed. but if you go back just a year or two, one of the top complaints our small business owners had was finding qualified workers. not anymore treed nobody is complaining about that. -- not anymore. nobody is complaining about that. you could hire them relatively inexpensive flee. you don't have to compete for them. from the workers put it, not so good. b

host: the president is traveling to allentown, pennsylvania today.es he is going to, a bakery called out in the lehigh valley, with 40 employees. one of the owners says that she is constantly getting applications for jobs. in that economy, 41,000 people out of work in allentown, what does that mean for somebody trying to hire somebody in tons of the income that they will be able to make and that competition to get the select number of jobs? guest: if you are in lehigh valley and you want to hire somebody, you obviously have a great selection. that is true for the economy as a whole. 15 million unemployed people now compared to 7 million in good times. we always have a bunch of people who are unemployed. but if you go back just a year or two, one of the top complaints our small business owners had was finding qualified workers. not anymore treed nobody is complaining about that. -- not anymore. nobody is complaining about that. you could hire them relatively inexpensive flee. you don't have to compete for them. from the workers put it, not so good. bu

tomorrow, president obama will travel to allentown, pa..the white house media team traveled to allentown and has captured the storied local small businesses making their way in these difficult economic times. there is a close-knit staff dedicated to serving one another and their communities. they have weathered the recession by tightening their belts and making personal sacrifices for the sake of the business. applied separations inc. is a small engineering firm that hires and tradespeople and green technology and some cases. training workers who have been led off from -- and in some cases re-train workers who have been laid off from other industries. i invite you now to watch their stores. -- to watch their stories. ♪ >> i think this morning, there was about 550 french bread, and that does not include pumpernickel or the russian rye, all the different kinds of bread that we produce. i am esther, and i am president of the egypt star bakery in allentown, pennsylvania. they know about are hard baked rolls and bread. we have approximately 40 e

allentown, pennsylvania, was ready to fly its freak flag. the president was there today to talk about jobs and the economy one day after hosting his jobs summit. president obama was able to report some modest good news, that the unemployment rate for november actually went down. but while the president was as earnest as ever, the crowd may have been a bit more giddy than he expected. thus, the first question from a college student with the crowds and obama's reaction. >> mr. obama, i really appreciate how you're trying to stimulate the economy to help this country out. and i was just wondering at our college, we've been studying some criminology. and i was wondering if maybe you checked out some of the statistics about legalizing prostitution, gambling, drugs and nonviolent crime in order to stimulate some of the economy. >> you know, i have to say this. i appreciate the boldness of your question. that will not be my job strategy. but -- but -- but let me say this. what year are you in in school? >> this is my second year in college. >> your

because i'm traveling to allentown, pennsylvania -- >> yeah! [laughter] >> i want to make sure that this room of business leaders and labor leaders and others just have a chance real quickly to hear directly from the mayor of allentown who is here right now. come up here, mr. mayor, because i want to make sure that -- [applause] >> this is the kind of town where the rubber hits the road and i'm going to be having conversations with workers, small businesses, community colleges, and i wanted the mayor to just give a sense of what's going on and what you think would make the biggest difference in your town. >> thank you so much, mr. president. i want to say we're really honored to have you come to allentown tomorrow. i'm very thankful that you're taking on these cadges. i know you were handed a mess when you came in, probably the worst economy in 70 years. i want to say thank you personally for all that you have done. i think you're doing a great job. on behalf of the city of allentown, you know, we have had some difficult challenges like most mi

we're honored do you have you in allentown. i'm thankful you're taking on these challenge, i know you were handed a mess when you came in, probably the worst economy in 70 years. i want to say thank you, personally for all that you have done. i think you're doing a great job. and -- on behalf of the city of allentown, we have had some -- some difficult challenges, and it is like most mid sized cities in the northeast, and our unem ploit rate last month has gone up to 1.8% and we have 41,000 people in the region that are unemployed but there are great things happening. we hopefully and hopefully are going to see the great things. we have great companies that are greg and expanding. and we a company that i know you're going to be at tomorrow that is actually manufacturing steel, steel in the united states and doing a great job at it, and growing their business and growing the work force, and we have -- a number of unique small businesses. in that region, we're diversified and we have a lot of fortune 500 companies and air product

sending this message to george sean carter and iris carter in allentown, virginia. i want to wish you a blessed and memorable holiday season. i'm proud of you, sean. keep pressing on, babe. >>> security at local emergency rooms is in question after a man fires a flair gun inside of a maryland hospital. digital correspondent kristin fisher has more from prince georges hospital center in cheverly. >> reporter: 39-year-old evan gerald graham walked in the emergency room on saturday night. but when he became disorderly with staff, he was asked to leave by a security guard. >> pulled out a flare gun and pointed it at the security guard. after that he fired two shots in to the air, struck the ceiling of the hospital. >> reporter: fortunately no one here was injured in the incident but that's not always the case. health care workers are twice as likely as those in other fields to be injured in a violent act at work and the emergency room is by far the most dangerous place. 20% of emergency departments report that gun organization knives are brought in to the er on a daily

we have activities on friday in allentown to talk about jobs and the economy. i anticipate -- that schedule is largely obviously set. i anticipate that the president -- i think you've seen him say this. i think the president understands explaining why we're there, why the decision was made, how we came to that decision and what it means for both the american people and the afghan people is not a one-shot deal. that we are going to have to continually talk to the american people and give them updates and assessments on where we are. i think the president will continue to do that. we don't have anything specifically laid out on the schedule to do that but i anticipate we will continue to do it throughout the year and next. [inaudible] >> there are oil pipelines in afghanistan is the reason why we're staying there? >> did he ignore -- i'm sorry -- >> he didn't mention the oil pipeline. does that have anything to do with his decision? >> no. i've never heard that come up in the, say, nine or 10 meetings i was in. i think, helen, just to go through what the presiden

. >> larry: you're 9 yeerdz old from allentown, pennsylvania in fourth grade.have you been there? >> i've been here for one year. >> larry: how do you like it? >> it's good so far. >> tell them what you like about it. >> larry: are you a good student? >> yes, i am. yep, i am. >> larry: tyler jones is from warren, ohio. you're also in fourth grade. how do you like it? >> it's really good. i like how you have a lot of opportunities to grow up and have a good life and have a good job and have a house that's stable. >> larry: how about living in new houses? do you like that, tyler? >> uh-huh. the houses are stable and protective. >> larry: queen, you were quoted as saying that the kids at the school are like the ones you knew growing up. in what way? >> because i come from basically from a lower middle class neighborhood, if not lower than that. you know, i knew a lot of kids who have family issues, whether it was drugs or alcohol in the house or whether there was abuse in the home or whether they just lived below the poverty level and their parents really struggle

caller: barack obama came through allentown, all the places that i go to and it seems like he is trying my friend chris is in the army here in pennsylvania and he is leaving today for afghanistan and want to give a shout out to maine airforce engine. he is gone to afghanistan, please look out for chris peters, a soldier going to afghanistan. protect him, get up there with my planes and help him. host: chester, west virginia, louis on the line for democrats. caller: i think dennis kucinich, and the senator from west virginia robert byrd, they voted against the war in afghanistan. time and time again they stand up. i think the two inspired me the most this year. thank you c-span for all you do for us every day on tv. host: an independent line from greensboro, north carolina. caller: hello, greta, hello, c- span. harry reid and nancy pelosi because of the fact that harry reid virtually was nullified during the bush administration and now no one is paying attention -- the new dog, harry reid right in the middle. he is so impressive -- i think he should get credit for that. i think he is the

and allentown pennsylvania. they're looking for a chance to make their own way to work, to succeed using their talents and skills. they're looking for folks in washington to have a seriousness of purpose that matches the reality of their struggle broke everywhere i've gone, every stop, there are people like this. men and women who have faced misfortune of the stand ready to build a better future. students ready to learn, workers eager to work, a scientist on discovery come on to procures seeking the chance to open a small business. are everywhere i go there are shuddered factories just waiting to were back to life in burgeoning industry's. there is a nation ready to meet the challenges of this new age and to lead the world in this new century. as a look back on the progress of the past year, and look forward to the work ahead, i have every confidence that we will do exactly that. these have been a tough two years. and there will no doubt be difficult months ahead. but the storms of the past are receding. the ski

the will be a 100-worker branch of the lehigh valley health network, the largest employer in allentown. what was what bethlehem steel is now up million dollars casino. -- now a 30-million-dollar casino. and fewer than 13 employees make up 13,000 -- fewer than 50 employees make up nearly 13,000 of the valley's 14,000 employers. guest: paying social security for a least one worker have under 20 employees in the u.s. did small business is important to job growth and job creation. we employ half the private sector employees in the u.s. and reproduce have the private gdp, a small firms to -- and we produce half of the private gdp, a small firms do. what is nice to see is that -- this is what the system does. bankruptcy is that from a personal point of view, but the whole idea -- if the resources you have are not making money, meaning doing something that people value, then you have to replace those assets -- reprice those assets and try another experiment so that you start making money. when companies go out of business, they go out of this is because you and i put them out of business. we

just like those people i visited in allentown. all they're looking for is a chance to make their own way. to work, to succeed using their talents and skills. and they're looking for folks in washington to have a seriousness of purpose that matches the reality of their struggle. everywhere i've gone, every stop i've made there are people like this, men and women who have faced misfortune, but who stand ready to build a better future. students ready to learn, workers eager to work, science terrorists on the bripg of discovery -- scientists on the brink of discovery, entrepreneurs seeking a chance to open small businesses. everywhere i go there are one-shuttered factories just waiting to get back to life. there is a nation ready to meet the challenges of this new age and to lead the world this this new century. as we look back on the progress of the past year and look forward to the work ahead, i have every confidence that we will do exact lu that -- exactly that. these have been a tough two years, and there will, no doubt, be diffic

it was mentioned that i was in allentown, pennsylvania, this past weekend, and went to a job center whereindividuals 50, 60 years old, looking for a job. and they were putting a braveç face on it, confident thatç eventually things wouldç work out, but you could also see the sense of anxiety, the fear that perhaps this time it wasç different. sometimes it's hard to break out of the bubble here in çwashington and remind ourselvs thatñr behind these statistics e people's lives, their capacity tot( doç right by their famili. çit speaks to an urgent need to accelerate job growth in the short term while laying a new foundation for lasting economic growth. my economic team has been considering a full rangeç of additional ideas to help accelerate the pace of private sector hiring. we held a jobs forum at the white house that brought together small business owners, ceos, union members, economists, folks from non- profits, and state and local officials to talk about job creation. and i've asked people to lead forums in their ownt( communities, sending the results to me, so we are hearing as

last friday i joined president obama in allentown, pennsylvania, to talk with and hear from business leaders and veterans about how to create new jobs and to grow the economy. the president laid out a jobs plan that will spur small business hiring, improve infrastructure and encourage energy efficiency. we need to take action on this plan that builds economic opportunity for the long term. new jobs are sustainable for years ahead. and rebuilding our infrastructure, creating new energy sources and developing new technology and innovative product and services that we and the world want to buy. we are committed to rebuilding america's economy, putting americans back to work and resuring our nation's economic future. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? >> i ask permission to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. burgess: thank you, mr. speaker. the silence of the administration and indeed the house of representatives on the subject o

the president traveled to allentown on friday, and on tuesday of this week, at brookings, he will be delivering what the white house is calling a major speech on jobs. the president giving a preview in his saturday address. this is part of what he said. it is true we as a country were in eye different place than we were in 2009. because of the recovery acts and other zeps we've taken were no longer facing the financial collapse of our system or a second great depression. we're no longer losing jobs at the rate of 7,000 a month, and the country is growing. in the coming days i will introduce programs aimed at accelerating job growth and emurging from this economic storm. so we don't face another crisis like this again, i am determined to meet our responsibilities to do what we know will strengthen our economy in the long run. that's why i am not going to let up on giving our children what is the best education in the world, and energy independence by investing in a clean nfering energy economy and to deal with mounting federal debt. >> in "national journal" "obama as a poker player, h

the folks at allentown and at all the towns across the country are just looking for a fair shake. that is what i want to give them. in the coming days, i will unveil additional ideas aimed at accelerating job growth. and so we don't face another crisis like this again, i am determined to meet our responsibility to do what we know must strengthen our economy in the long run. that is why i'm not going to let up on my efforts to reform the health-care system, to give children the best education in the world, to promote jobs of tomorrow by investing in a clean energy economy, and to deal with the mounting federal debt. from the moment i was sworn into office, we have taken a number of difficult steps to end this economic crisis. we did not take them because they were popular or gratifying. we took these steps because they were necessary. i did not run for president to bail out banks or shore up a lot of companies. i did not run for president to manage a crisis of the moment while kicking our most pressing problems down the road. i ran for president to help hard-working families succee

host: allentown, pennsylvania. barbara, good morning. caller: i have to agree with a lot of your other callers. it seems like a great idea to expand medicare to 55. i think that would suffice for the public option, but i also think that one gentleman called to say to reduce it every so often by five years, lower and lower. i think it would work beautifully. host: some other headlines this money. the front page here, u.s. man named in india plot. another headline for you from " the new york times" -- millions in the u.s. drink dirty water, records say. also this morning, within "the usa today" the obama team launches its internet interactive openness policy with on-line access. it is part of a planned national contest to help kids eat better meals. if you want to read more that is "the usa today." good morning. caller: i'm glad you took my call. i think the president will get a bill. congress will get it together with the help of the independents. without the independent voters we're not going anywhere. there are a lot of other good thing