Obama touts job training in Wisconsin, training program review

President Barack Obama, speaking at a General Electric Co. plant in Wisconsin, outlined his "opportunity agenda" to train workers for current and future jobs."We've got too much work to do out there, because the defining project of our generation, what we have to tackle right now, what has driven me throughout my presidency and what will drive me until I wave goodbye, is making sure that we're restoring opportunity to every single person," Obama told 500 managers, workers and elected officials at the GE Energy Waukesha Engines Facility.The plant builds huge orange-painted VHP [Very High Powered] EPA-certified natural gas powered engines used in oil and gas industries.The president is on the second day of a two-day trip pushing issues he raised Tuesday in his fifth State of the Union address -- raising the minimum wage to $10.10 a hour, pay equity for women, world-class education, expanding economic opportunity, and job training.Relaxed in shirt sleeves despite frigid cold and blowing snow outside, Obama toured the plant in largely Republican Waukesha and joked that he "always appreciated the hospitality that [Green Bay] Packer Country gives a [Chicago] Bears fan."He got laughs when he said he saw some "Cheeseheads for Obama" during his first campaign swing in the state."Today, we learned that in the second half of last year our economy grew by 3.7 percent," he said. "We still have more work to do, put that's pretty strong. And our businesses led the way."Obama then signed a presidential memorandum directing Vice President Joe Biden to conduct a full review to determine the best ways to update and reform federal training programs."What we need to do is look at where are the jobs and take a job-driven approach to training," Obama said. "That's what you're doing here in Wisconsin."We've got all the ingredients we need to make sure that America thrives," he said. "And the question for folks in Washington is whether they're going to help or they're going to hinder that progress."Obama wraps up his four-state trip with a speech at McGavock High School in Nashville and hen returns to the White House.