Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2008)
Union officials disappointed Feds’ stimulus package doesn’t do enough for workers limit. cut,” he said. “We should take this op- jump in unemployment in December, WASHINGTON, D.C. (PAI) — A from diving headlong into recession.” Republicans and Democrats on the portunity to invest immediately in in- to 5 percent; the largest decline in ex- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D- $150 billion economic stimulus pack- frastructure projects that will better our Senate Finance Committee are cur- isting home sales in 25 years, and Calif.), wasn’t “totally pleased” by age unveiled Jan. 24 after week-long rently developing an economic stimu- country’s future and provide jobs to- states facing budget deficits that force the proposed bill. “But I do know it’ll talks between Democratic House day. By investing in our roads, bridges, lus package of their own. Republicans stimulate the economy,” she said. “If it them to cut Medicaid money. leaders and the GOP Bush Adminis- are concentrating on business tax cuts, and highways, we will be creating “New Medicaid regulations are doesn’t, there’ll be more to come.” tration lacks several key provisions although they and Bush have dropped jobs, helping workers put food on the about to shift more costs to the states The key item for workers is indi- that would help workers, national their insistence that the bill should table, and in the process, we will gen- vidual and family tax rebates, ranging at a time when they can barely afford AFL-CIO President John Sweeney make his 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for erate a lasting public good that will go to meet current needs,” said Gerald up to $600 per said. the rich permanent. Those tax cuts are beyond a few hundred dollars.” McEntee, president of the American adult, $1,200 per Instead, those pro- ‘The…stimulus due to expire in 2010. An infusion of cash into the infra- Federation of State, County and Mu- couple, and $300 visions — extending Lawmakers initially wanted to structure is unlikely at this time, ac- nicipal Employees. per child. But the unemployment bene- proposal simply is have a stimulus bill sent to the presi- Oregon Congressman Earl Blume- cording to Senate Budget Committee package does not fits, repaving roads, not enough to make extend jobless bene- nauer of Portland, a member of the dent by Feb. 15. That timeline has Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.). and expanding eligi- been moved up and a bill could be He said Congress’ reaction overall Ways and Means and Budget commit- fits beyond 26 bility for food stamps a real difference for tees, said the proposed stimulus pack- is that infrastructure “should be part of voted on this week. (A vote had not weeks, it does not — would be lumped been taken in either the House or Sen- the second stimulus package.” The age will provide “broad-based relief help people who into a second “stimu- working families.’ ate as this issue of the NW Labor same thing goes for extending jobless must turn to Medic- for lower and middle-income fami- lus” bill that would benefits beyond their current 26-week Press went to press). lies.” aid for health care, come up later this However, he was disappointed that nor does it expand food stamps to year and that would face rockier sled- it didn’t contain food stamps or unem- more people. ding on Capitol Hill, due to budget “It’s a step in the right direction, but ployment benefits. “Removing these rules and the time crunch from the simply doesn’t go far enough in mak- provisions underlines the misplaced presidential campaign. ing a real difference for America’s priorities of President Bush and his al- “The … stimulus proposal simply working families,” said Anna Burger, lies in Congress,” Blumenauer said. is not enough to make a real differ- chair of the Change to Win labor feder- “By allowing the process to work and ence for working families,” Sweeney Real Estate Broker ation. “It’s time for the leaders in Wash- encouraging the public to weigh in, I said. “It is up to the Senate to extend ington to take bold and immediate ac- would hope that we could make this unemployment benefits and increase Member of CWA 7886 SE 13th Ave. tion to restore the purchasing power of package better.” food stamps to get money into the Local 7901 Portland, Oregon 97202 U.S. Rep. Brian Baird of Washing- America’s working families.” hands of those who will spend it Direct: 503-495-4932 ton said he believes that people would Lawmakers and Bush are scram- quickest and need it most.” Branch: 503-233-8883 rather have a job then a check. bling to inject money into workers’ The national AFL-CIO came up E-Mail: gstorms@equitygroup.com “It is clear that this problem goes pockets as signs of a recession appear. with a five-point stimulus package of www.equitygroup.com/gstorms Each Office Independently Owned and Operated beyond cutting a one-time check or tax its own, which it shared with congres- Those signs include an 0.3 percent sional leaders before they met with the president. The five points political leaders were urged to include in any Carpenters, Electricians, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers stimulus package included: • Extension of unemployment ben- efits. • Increased food stamp benefits. • Tax rebates targeted to middle-in- come and lower-income taxpayers. • Fiscal relief for state and local governments to avoid the economi- cally depressing effect of tax increases and budget cuts. • Acceleration of ready-to-go pub- lic investment in school renovations and bridge repair. Sweeney said “anything less will not be sufficient to keep our economy Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 E-mail: Michael492@comcast.net Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150-0150, PORTLAND, OR 97213 Did you find your dream vehicle at the Auto Show? Let IBEW & United Workers Federal Credit Union help turn your dream into reality with an auto loan. Contact us today to learn more about our Low Low Rates Convenient Terms and Easy Financing PO Box 16877 9955 SE Washington St Portland, Oregon 97292 www.ibewuwfcu.com Apply online at www.ibewuwfcu.com or Call us at 800-356-6507 ext 340 Electricians, Carpenters, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofer, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Electricians, Carpenters, Laborers, Glaziers, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofer, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers Gradine Storms Glaziers, Carpenters, Laborers, Electricians, Sheetmetal Workers, Floorcoverers, Bricklayers, Cement Masons, Roofers, Asbestos Workers, Family, Millwrights, Painters, Elevators, Plasterers FEBRUARY 1, 2008 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 3
