AFL-CIO says Dems' debt plan hurts jobs

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A proposal by Democratic members of the bipartisan, bicameral supercommittee could undercut President Obama's jobs drive, the AFL-CIO chief said Monday.

Richard Trumka said a proposal to reduce the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years from the majority of Democrats on the panel tasked with reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion in the next decade hurts Obama's jobs message, The Hill reported.

The Democratic plan would raise revenues by $1.3 trillion, cut entitlement programs by about $500 billion over the next 10 years and would contain Obama's $447 billion jobs bill in its entirety.

"This can do nothing but to confuse and derail the progress that has been made," Trumka said during a conference call with reporters.

He said he has talked to members of the committee and told them it was the wrong direction.

"So the question was, was I surprised?" Trumka said. "Yes, I was surprised to see some of the suggestions coming out of the Democratic side."