Burger: Economic Stimulus Proposal Needs to Do More for America's Working Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 25, 2008

CONTACT:
Greg Denier
Noreen Nielsen
(202) 721-0660

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following is a statement from Change to Win chair Anna Burger regarding the agreement reached by House Democrats and the Bush administration on an economic stimulus plan.

“Economic recovery is made in working America. The purchasing power of working families is the engine of economic growth that is fueled by good jobs with wages that can support a family and provide affordable health care and retirement benefits.

“Yet, seven years of the Bush administration’s disastrous economic policies have sacrificed the needs of working families for the interests of the powerful and privileged, and now we face one of the most serious economic downturns in decades. Working family purchasing power has been stripped through rising unemployment, the decline of real wages, and rising costs for necessities such as food, gas and health care.

“It’s time for the leaders in Washington to take bold and immediate action to restore the purchasing power of America’s working families.

“Yesterday’s economic stimulus plan reached by the House Democrats and the Bush administration is a step in the right direction, but simply doesn’t go far enough in making a real difference for America’s working families. As the economy weakens, more jobs will be lost, the cost of necessities will continue to rise, and the people who need the benefits most will be left with no where to turn. Giving tax breaks to business without extending benefits to those most in need only exacerbates the problem.

“The seven unions and six million members of Change to Win urge the Senate to adopt effective measures to provide an economic jumpstart that will have the greatest impact on the economy while addressing the underlying causes of its current weakness, and help those who are suffering the most in the current economic downturn.

“The short-term measures should include providing tax rebates for retired workers who are being particularly hard hit by high home heating bills and medical expenses, as well as for all low- and middle-income workers who pay payroll taxes.

“The eligibility period for unemployment insurance should be extended and benefits improved. Assistance should be provided to the states to help pay for essential programs such as Medicaid. And food stamp benefits, home heating assistance and SSI benefits should be temporarily increased to help those who are struggling most in the dwindling economy for they will provide an immediate stimulus because they will spend increase benefits to meet immediate needs.

“Congress should provide the funds to accelerate planned construction and infrastructure repair projects to begin within 3-6 months to help create jobs and address neglected investments, as well as provide immediate help for families at risk of losing their homes to offset the deleterious effects that foreclosures and falling housing prices have on working families, state and local revenues, and the economy as a whole.

“It is also vital for Congress to provide a long-term plan to stimulate the economy that includes developing comprehensive health care reform, ending free trade deals that send our jobs overseas, and initiating a long-term program to rebuild America’s infrastructure.”

** Note: Media representatives interested in scheduling an interview to discuss Change to Win’s position on the economic stimulus plan should contact Noreen Nielsen at Noreen.nielsen@changetowin.org. **