Minnesotan to be Obama guest at tonight’s job speech
WASHINGTON - Tonight's speech by President Obama before a joint session of Congress is quickly turning into a miniature version of the annual State of the Union address.
The latest sign, a list of guests invited by First Lady Michelle Obama, including Burnsville resident Darlene Miller.
Miller is the owner and CEO of Permac Industries, which makes machine tools, and she also serves on a presidential panel on jobs and competitiveness so her invitation makes sense in the context of the speech, which will emphasize ways to create jobs and bring down unemployment.
Her company was also a beneficiary of a subsidized job program that was part of the 2009 stimulus act.
Miller has also contributed to Republican candidates in the past, including Rep. John Kline and former Sen. Norm Coleman, so her presence as a guest of the First Lady serves another of the President's themes: the need to for bipartisanship.
Other guests include GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt, AOL co-founder Steve Case and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.