MISPLACED PRIORITIES: LET'S FOCUS ON THE JOBS DEFICIT

Nearly fifty years later, American families are still asking the White House and Congress the same age-old questions about our country's misplaced priorities.  (Image was taken by Ove Overmyer at the October 2, 2010 ONWT rally in D.C. ) 

Rochester, N.Y.--  We at the Voice Reporter have been in a stupor these past few days. We are having a hard time trying to reconcile what the hell is going on in Washington since the lame duck session began earlier this week.

Just when two million jobless Americans are scheduled to lose their unemployment benefits between now and Christmas, just because Republicans and some conservative Democrats say we can't afford to keep funding the program, the primary focus of everyone's attention is now on the deficit commission's report.

And guess what? Most of those same members of Congress who voted not to extend unemployment lifelines to needy families are supporting an extension of the Bush tax cuts for the rich— a $700 billion tax bailout for millionaires with no return on our investment. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis told The Associated Press on Wednesday that declining to extend the benefits would be a mistake for Congress. This is a classic battle of class warfare plain and simple.

The tax cuts for the richest people in America is terrible economic policy, and just plain immoral-- specifically during a horrible recession. Spending is the best way to boost the economy out of a recession. Naturally, unemployment checks would go along way to stabilizing our local communities this holdiay season-- but I guess that might not happen if the GOP continues to get their way.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) just released a study which supports the notion that providing unemployment insurance to these families was the number one best way to improve the economy. Why isn't there more outrage about the lack of focus in D.C.?

If you are an unemployed truck driver or factory worker who voted for a Republican in November, last month you sanctioned the misery and dispair you and your dependents are now experiencing.

The budget deficit commission proposals will erode the middle class

The blueprint presented by commission co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson calls for keeping the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy while cutting Social Security and Medicare. These are, plain and simple, job-killing policies and an attack on common decency. We have said this before but it bares repeating: today's political conundrum should be viewed for what it truly is-- greed, self interest and profit are valued over the general welfare and common good of ordinary everyday citizens.

At the same time, the so-called nonpartisan deficit commission’s proposal once again reminds working Americans they are not worth the investment. Providing additional momentum are two more Republican senators who said this morning that they would support the plan when the 18-member commission votes on the recommendations December 3. We still don't know how the vote will turn out, but either way it doesn't bode well for working families.


AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
photo by Ove Overmyer

 In a statement released yesterday, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said, "What we really need to do now is focus on the jobs deficit." Now we're talking-- finally a voice of reason.

Right now, estimates hover around fifteen million people out of work, and another 11 million have given up looking or are working part-time involuntarily. More and more CSEA folks are falling into this latter category. We need to end tax breaks that send American jobs overseas and invest in jobs by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and green technologies. This is legislation that the GOP will not address because it contradicts the corporate welfare status-quo.

To deal with long-term deficit issues, the AFL-CIO supports the core principles underlying the Economic Policy Institute's “Investing in America’s Economy Budget Blueprint,” Trumka said.

He added, "We need to put jobs and economic growth first; we must invest in education and infrastructure to be competitive in the 21st century; Wall Street and the wealthy must bear their share of the burden; and we need to deal with the growth of health care costs."

The GOP leadership in Washington can't have it both ways. You can't say that you are concerned about the deficit and at the same time give tax breaks to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. It's riduculous.

The 111th Congress has passed several pieces of legislation aimed at increasing employment, and several more pieces are currently under consideration. However, the Senate GOP wants to block everything until they get their way with the tax cuts for the rich. They want to send a message to their big corporate donors that they are looking out for them-- not you the American people. Is this ok with you?