The stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Senate has been badly weakened, top economists say, by the same ideology that created the economic crisis.
Now is the time to tell your Senators and Representatives to get it right. A final vote on a compromise bill is expected by Friday.
Call 866-544-7573 today for the Congressional switchboard (a toll-free line from the Coalition on Human Needs). Ask for the office of Senator Feinstein, Senator Boxer or your Representative. Tell them the economic recovery bill must include the House bill's aid to states and schools, rather than ineffective tax cuts.
The only hope for our economy is to boost and stabilize the buying power of average Americans by providing solid, middle-class jobs.
But many in Congress are marching in lockstep with the failed ideology of the past eight years. The Senate bill cuts more than $100 billion that the House version had designated to create and save jobs. Instead, the Senate voted for more tax breaks for people and businesses who are likely, especially now, to just stash the money in savings. The cost of the Senate changes: up to 650,000 jobs.
While tax cuts have proved ineffective, emergency aid to recession-battered states -- including California -- would both prevent massive layoffs and preserve essential public services. It must be restored to the bill.
Americans decisively rejected the Bush economic policies in November and polls show most now recognize that government-funded infrastructure projects will do more for the economy than tax cuts. With the nation teetering on the brink of catastrophe, it's past time for our elected leaders to show the same wisdom.
Please call or e-mail Congress today! Support the House spending bill.
Quality jobs for the local economy
Governments at the local level also can stimulate the economy by helping create good jobs. From school construction bonds to the federal stimulus money that eventually will reach the local level, all public infrastructure spending can help boost the middle class by specifying job quality.
The San Diego Unified School District Board is under an intense, orchestrated attack from the building industry for doing just that. Click here to sign a petition supporting the board's negotiations for a Construction Careers Project Stabilization Agreement that will guarantee local hiring, decent job standards and apprenticeship career paths for struggling workers. Click here for more information.
