Obama touts insourcing, 'Made in America'

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday promoted "bringing jobs back from overseas" and said so-called insourcing is "part of a hopeful trend."

In his weekly radio and Internet address, the president used several props -- a padlock, a pair of boots, a candle and a pair of socks -- to illustrate his point, noting that the products are "united by three proud words: 'Made in America.'"

"They're manufactured by American workers, in American factories, and shipped to customers here and around the world," he said.

"The companies that make these products are part of a hopeful trend: they're bringing jobs back from overseas," Obama said. "You've heard of outsourcing -- well, this is insourcing. And in this make or break moment for the middle class and those working to get into the middle class, that's exactly the kind of commitment to country that we need."

The president hosted a forum at the White House this week with chief executive officers from businesses that he said are insourcing jobs.

"These are CEOs who take pride in hiring people here in America, not just because it's increasingly the right thing to do for their bottom line, but also because it's the right thing to do for their workers and for our communities and our country," he said.

"I told those CEOs what I'll tell any business leader: ask yourself what you can do to bring more jobs back to the country that made your success possible," Obama said. "And I'll make sure you've got a government that does everything in its power to help you succeed."

The president said he will ask Congress to approve tax policy changes to "reward companies that choose to do the right thing by bringing jobs home and investing in America -- and eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas."

He also noted that he asked Congress Friday to reinstate authority U.S. presidents used to have, to "streamline and reform" the executive branch of government in the interest of "more efficiency, better service, and a leaner government."