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.
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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-
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FEBRUARY 1, 2008
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