President Barack Obama speaks at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo., in this file photo.Read moreRolling out the unwelcome mat: Plenty of vitriol will greet Obama in Chattanooga
The White House is billing President Obama's talk in Chattanooga on Tuesday as one in a series of policy speeches on his "better bargain for the middle class."
The address to Amazon employees, which is expected around 1:30 p.m. at the company's 1 million-square-foot distribution center on Discovery Drive, will focus on manufacturing and high-wage jobs for durable economic growth, according to White House officials.
Last week, Obama told students in Illinois and workers in Florida that helping promote the economy for middle-class jobs is his highest priority. He blamed Republicans for "gridlock that has gotten worse" and focusing on what he called "phony scandals" in Washington.
Obama officials claim budget cuts through sequestration have hurt economic growth, and he has urged Congress to support more investment in education and infrastructure to create more training and jobs.
Republicans contend that excessive federal spending is driving up the deficit, and too many regulations and the health reform they call Obamacare are hurting business investment.
Although there are fewer jobs than before the Great Recession, Obama administration officials claim that 7.2 million private-sector jobs have been added to the U.S. economy over the past 42 months.
"We still have a lot more work to do, so the president wants to lay out ways that we can strengthen the middle class and keep the recovery going in a strong way," White House deputy press secretary Amy Brundage said.
Contact staff writer Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6340.