Is there finally a Republican Jobs Bill at long last? Nope (sorry 99ers), but there is something called the "Full Employment and Training Act” or H.R. 870 - Introduced by MI Democratic Representative John Conyers, as a 21st century update of the 1970’s bill "Humphrey–Hawkins Full Employment Act" which explicitly instructs the nation to strive toward four ultimate goals: full employment, growth in production, price stability, and balance of trade and budget."
The original bill Titled Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act was in response to rising unemployment levels in the 1970s, Representative Augustus Hawkins and Senator Hubert Humphrey created the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act. It was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on October 27, 1978, and codified as 15 USC § 3101 - has been ammended twice, once in May 10, 1979 to include Federal outlays as part of the GNP (gross national product) and again on November 5, 1990 when adding to the Pollution Prevention Act.
From Govtrack.us:
The new version (which has been sitting in committee since it’s introduction a month ago - so much for the Republican “jobs” priority in America) is meant “to establish the National Full Employment Trust Fund to create employment opportunities for the unemployed” and will be cited as cited as the ‘Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act’ or the ‘Work Opportunities and Revitalizing Our Communities Act’ - or HR870.
Mr. CONYERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. [Which basically means that Boehner can and likely will allow this bill to die in committee and never bring it to the floor the entire 112th congressional session]
According to Kelly Wiedemer of the Denver Unemployment Examiner: “If this legislation passes there would be millions of jobs to be done by Americans and paid for by Wall Street.”
HR870 would be completely paid for by a Tax on Securities Transactions. That fact alone is reason enough for the Republicans allow the bill to die in committee and never even see a vote on the House floor as GOPers only want bills paid for by austerity cuts on Americas poorest citizens and not the sacred cows on Wall Street.
Meanwhile, U-Cubed (Union of the Unemployed) is as busy as ever attempting to get Washington to enact help for jobless Americans. Last Friday U-Cubed in a press release likened the recent attack on Ohio’s middle class (last week by Governor John Kasich) to a Joseph Conrad-like ‘Heart of Darkness’, opining America is becoming: “a place where crazy ideas take hold, and punishing the jobless is the most insane – and morally bankrupt – idea yet.” (Read the entire Press Release Here )
“Gov. Kasich’s decision to close his $8 billion budget deficit on the backs of working families and the jobless is the wrong answer to this crisis,” said UCubed Executive Director Rick Sloan. “Ohio has 567,000 ‘official’ unemployed. That translates into $23 billion in lost income and an estimated $3.3 billion in lost revenue from sales and income taxes. It also means higher expenses for unemployment benefits and Medicaid.
“The right solution is to put Americans back to work..... EVERY job is priceless!”
How can we put Americans back to work? UCubed is calling for a 25 percent surtax on high-income Americans that would generate $248 billion - more than enough for a 21st century Works Progress Administration (WPA) jobs program that would put millions of jobless Americans back to work immediately.
It takes less than 30 seconds to do something to support this effort by U-Cubed. Go HERE to take action now.
The hyper-rich, the top 1 in 1,000 households, claim as much of our national wealth as the bottom 800 out of 1,000 households. The same households rake in $1 TRILLION a year, including capital gains. In fact in the last 40 years, their share of national income grew from 2.7 to 12.3 percent. Their average income went from $4 million to $35 million. It’s time the hyper-rich pay their fair share!
If you agree, click here to demand a 25 percent surtax on the hyper-rich in order to fund a WPA-style jobs program. We must do something NOW to stop the bleeding.
Last week Governor of Michigan signed into law a 6 week cut in that state’s UI benefits. Not to mention the states who have refused to allow their long term unemployed residents to even take advantage of the extend time to utilize the 4 extensions currently in place. Idaho, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana, South Carolina and 11 other states. Let’s face it - THIS is an outright WAR on the unemployed, the poor and the middle class. And we had better start fighting back NOW - before it is too late.
See my full Commentary here.
Comments