President Obama to Congress inaction cold comfort for unemployed millions
By: T. Cahill
Washington, D.C. (Jun 12) – In a letter to the House and Senate, specifically Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner, along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, today the President urged “swift action on several critical priorities that will give our Nation’s small businesses added impetus to hire and grow”. Stating that administrative actions over the past 18 months have “helped break the freefall and restore growth” the need is still present to continue addressing additional measures. Job creation and building growth momentum toward recovery, while establishing long-term fiscal discipline were keynote features.
Citing the loss of over 700,000 jobs per month at the beginning of 2009, and the approximate creation of 500,000 private sector jobs created in the first half of 2010, the President hammered home the fact that while “this is good news for those who have found work and for businesses large and small… it is cold comfort for the millions of others who want to get back to work” but cannot find jobs.
President Obama stressed the importance of the extenders legislation being considered by the Senate. Included in the provisions of this legislation are tax cuts to help keep research and development (R&D) jobs in the U.S. It will also allow the Small Business Administration to expand its lending programs to encourage growth. Growth means jobs.
Numerous initiatives within said legislation, including Home Star rebate programs for home improvement, with additional tax credits for cleaner manufacturing in the United States served as methods to “unlock private sector investment”. The President continues, “All of these targeted, temporary measures are directed at spurring private investment and cost-effective ways of spurring job creation.”
The President’s concern is the same as millions of Americans, unemployed due to no fault of their own, “I am concerned, however, that the lingering economic damage left by the financial crisis we inherited has left a mounting employment crisis at the state and local level that could set back the pace of our economic recovery”.
The current recession “has been deeper and more painful than any in 70 years” with state and local governments also in critical and deepening vicious downward spirals. Lost jobs and foreclosed homes resulting in the loss of revenue impact critical services “at the very time our Nation’s families need them most”.
Urging passage of the extenders act will have a positive impact on Medicaid, help bolster education and save teaching positions threatened at the worst possible time. This country needs its teachers; the children of this country deserve an education worthy of a country that has, until the best decade or so, been a haven for all those seeking quality and affordability in education.
“Because the urgency is high – many school districts, cities and states are already being forced to make these layoffs – these provisions must be passed as quickly as possible,” President Obama writes. “In addition, we should take steps to continue the Recovery Act program that has already helped millions of unemployed workers pay for continuing their health care coverage”.
The President is calling for a three year freeze for non-security discretionary spending, along with a fee on the largest Wall Street firms. This fee would help “eliminate any increase in the cost of TARP to the deficit”.
Aggressive, well-targeted and temporary measures, in combination with actions that are sustainable and long-term budget responsibility helps ensure the United States economic potential. “I know you share my sense of urgency and look forward to working closely with Congress as we continue our efforts to jumpstart job creation and restore fiscal discipline in Washington,” the President concluded.
It is to be hoped that the further specifics within the President’s letter have the impact and provide the impetus for Congress to quit stalling and pass measures to ensure not just the job safety of teachers, but the continued financial support of those unemployed. Unemployment extensions are not a luxury they are a major necessity for millions. Let us all hope Congress listens to the President, as it seems they have turned a deaf ear to their citizens.
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4 Responses to President Obama to Congress inaction cold comfort for unemployed millions
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Debbie
June 14, 2010 at 1:59 pm
why can the president not sign a bill for the tier v unemployment, or does he want all of us americans homeless and hungry. Quit spending money on alien’s that inter the country and forgein countries and take care of your americans that put you into office. If you care like you say you do please do something this week.
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Sue Ledy
June 14, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I pray this letter does indeed make the Senate get off their butts and approve the HR 4213 bill.
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De
June 18, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Here is the contact info for the Senate members that voted against unemployment and COBRA on 6/17/2010 on the same day they voted for a tax break for the very wealthy.
Alexander, Lamar – (R – TN)
(202) 224-4944
Web Form: alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Barrasso, John – (R – WY)
(202) 224-6441
Web Form: barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs…
Bennett, Robert F. – (R – UT)
(202) 224-5444
Web Form: bennett.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Bond, Christopher S. – (R – MO)
(202) 224-5721
Web Form: bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.Con…
Byrd, Robert C. – (D – WV)
(202) 224-3954
Web Form: byrd.senate.gov/contacts/
Brownback, Sam – (R – KS)
(202) 224-6521
Web Form: brownback.senate.gov/public/contact/emailsam.cfm
Bunning, Jim – (R – KY)
(202) 224-4343
Web Form: bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Co…
Burr, Richard – (R – NC)
(202) 224-3154
Web Form: burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Conta…
Chambliss, Saxby – (R – GA)
(202) 224-3521
Web Form: chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Coburn, Tom – (R – OK)
(202) 224-5754
Web Form: coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactsenatorcoburn?p…
Cochran, Thad – (R – MS)
(202) 224-5054
Web Form: cochran.senate.gov/email.html
Collins, Susan M. – (R – ME)
(202) 224-2523
Web Form: collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=Contact…
Corker, Bob – (R – TN)
(202) 224-3344
Web Form: corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe
Cornyn, John – (R – TX)
(202) 224-2934
Web Form: cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm
Crapo, Mike – (R – ID)
(202) 224-6142
Web Form: crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
DeMint, Jim – (R – SC)
(202) 224-6121
Web Form: demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactInformation
Ensign, John – (R – NV)
(202) 224-6244
Web Form: ensign.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con…
Enzi, Michael B. – (R – WY)
(202) 224-3424
Web Form: enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInform…
Graham, Lindsey – (R – SC)
(202) 224-5972
Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Em…
Grassley, Chuck – (R – IA)
(202) 224-3744
Web Form: grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Gregg, Judd – (R – NH)
(202) 224-3324
Web Form: gregg.senate.gov/contact/
Hatch, Orrin G. – (R – UT)
(202) 224-5251
Web Form: hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Cont…
Hutchison, Kay Bailey – (R – TX)
(202) 224-5922
Web Form: hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Inhofe, James M. – (R – OK)
(202) 224-4721
Web Form: inhofe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con…
Isakson, Johnny – (R – GA)
(202) 224-3643
Web Form: isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Johanns, Mike – (R – NE)
(202) 224-4224
Web Form: johanns.senate.gov/public/?p=ContactSenatorJohanns
Kyl, Jon – (R – AZ)
(202) 224-4521
Web Form: kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm
LeMieux, George S. – (R – FL)
(202) 224-3041
Web Form: lemieux.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorLeMieux
Lugar, Richard G. – (R – IN)
(202) 224-4814
Web Form: lugar.senate.gov/contact/
McCain, John – (R – AZ)
(202) 224-2235
Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con…
McConnell, Mitch – (R – KY)
(202) 224-2541
Web Form: http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=contact
Murkowski, Lisa – (R – AK)
(202) 224-6665
Web Form: murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact
Risch, James E. – (R – ID)
(202) 224-2752
Web Form: risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Roberts, Pat – (R – KS)
(202) 224-4774
Web Form: http://www.roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EmailPat
Sessions, Jeff – (R – AL)
(202) 224-4124
Web Form: sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Constitue…
Shelby, Richard C. – (R – AL)
(202) 224-5744
Web Form: shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSena…
Snowe, Olympia J. – (R – ME)
(202) 224-5344
Web Form: snowe.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenat…
Thune, John – (R – SD)
(202) 224-2321
Web Form: thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email
Vitter, David – (R – LA)
(202) 224-4623
Web Form: vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con…
Voinovich, George V. – (R – OH)
(202) 224-3353
Web Form: voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact….
Wicker, Roger F. – (R – MS)
(202) 224-6253
Web Form: wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EMa…
Nelson, Ben – (D – NE)
(202) 224-6551
Web Form: bennelson.senate.gov/contact-me.cfm
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tg
June 26, 2010 at 10:51 am
Keep this list alive and circulate it to everyone, as this is the target list for removal from office when their terms are up. Some of them are not due to be up for a while, so it is our job to remember and keep them in the public’s eye as targets for removal, including the Dem hold out Byrd. We must take responsibility for allowing these fools to continue in office when we all could have made a difference during the elections, but alot of us sat home as spectators instead of participants in the election process. A strategy might I say the republicans counted on. Unfortunately, I am happy to see that the republican constituents are also experiencing first hand the greedy influence the special interest\lobbyist have on their party members. Make no mistake that this is not about cutting the deficit! That is a rather minor concern of the republicans. For them it was not important in the previous administration, and it sure isn’t important for them now. It is a device used to deflect attention of the American public, who the republicans view as simpletons, to mask the underline influences of lobbyist\special interest. It is about protecting the tax loop holes and the ability of the special interest lobbyist to continue outsourcing jobs to foreign governments which allow them to continue collecting high profit margins since productions cost are lower, even when at home there is major unemployment and recession going on. Contact these fools and let know that its time to gather some boxes and start packing their belongings as they will be evicted from their offices very soon, along with their cohort lobbyist.
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