The rumors are true: Sonny Perdue is thinking about following the lead of many other southern governors by turning down some of the stimulus money offered to Georgia.
Perdue's reasoning is that certain provisions - specifically, an expansion of unemployment insurance (UI) - will lead to higher taxes in Georgia in the long run.
In order to receive the funding allocated for unemployment insurance, Georgia must make two reforms to its current UI program: UI benefits must be expanded to cover part-time workers and those who are in extended training programs.
Many states already made these reforms to their UI programs years ago, and now is a great time for Georgia to catch up! With our state's unemployment rate at record highs, why is Sonny Perdue refusing to reform the current system?
Many other southern governors, including Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Mark Sanford of South Carolina, have already rejected this funding for unemployment insurance. But, Perdue hasn't made up his mind yet!
NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION! Contact Sonny Perdue's office and let him know you favor accepting all stimulus money offered to Georgia and an expansion of unemployment insurance benefits!
To reach the governor...
by phone: 404-656-1776
by fax: 404-656-5947
by email: fill out this web form
in person: State Capitol, room 203
MAKE SURE SONNY PERDUE HEARS YOUR VOICE!
For more information, please visit the following websites:
Franklin Wants Perdue to Take Stimulus Money - AJC.com
Georgia Unemployment Reaches Record High - AJC.com
Perdue, Labor Commissioner Debate Taking Stimulus Money - AJC.com
Take the Money and Update the Rules - NELP.org
Unemployment Insurance Links - NELP.org
Unemployment Insurance Reform - Women's Policy Group
Showing posts with label economic stimulus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economic stimulus. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
How do you feel about the new stimulus plan??
Our U.S. Congress is working on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The House has already passed the stimulus plan and the Senate will soon be voting. If passed, some of the money will come to the state of Georgia, to some of our cities and also some school districts.
Locally, ten cities in Georgia have requested almost 3 billion dollars from the plan, including Atlanta, Alpharetta, Marietta, Acworth, and Athens. Proposed projects would put money into repairing old infrastructure and building new that could possibly add 30,000-40,000 jobs in Atlanta region alone. Also a priority to Atlanta is public safety, including hiring more police officers. Mayor Shirley Franklin states that “this is important to the city, to the state and important to the national economy.”
Meanwhile, Rep. John Lewis, who supports the stimulus plan, states on his website that the bill offers tax cuts to 95% of Americans and that the funds will go to increasing Pell grants, infrastructure, lowered healthcare costs thru technology upgrade as well as many other programs. His website shows as much as $8 billion as being requested to aid in projects such as Head Start; employment training for adults, youth and dislocated workers; Low-Income Home Energy Assistance; elderly services; the Food Stamps Program; and Medicaid.
Critics, however, look at this as increased government spending and increasing to our debt, rather than helping it. They urge for continued stimulus to the private sector rather than government programs. Adding to public criticism is the failure to pay taxes by several of President Obama’s administration choices including Tom Daschle.
Meanwhile, the news reports today that employers have slashed another 598,000 jobs in January - pushing the unemployment rate up to 7.6 percent!! According to CNNMoney, the latest job loss is the worst since December 1974, and brings job losses to 1.8 million in just the last three months. Economists project continued losses and economic downturn in 2009.
President Obama has said that the American people called for change in November and “that's what we're going to deliver”. How do you feel about the new stimulus package? Do you support it or oppose it? Have you contacted your legislators about your views? Share with us, but also don’t forget to share with your US Senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, as well as your district House and Senate reps. You can find how to contact them at www.votesmart.org.
Locally, ten cities in Georgia have requested almost 3 billion dollars from the plan, including Atlanta, Alpharetta, Marietta, Acworth, and Athens. Proposed projects would put money into repairing old infrastructure and building new that could possibly add 30,000-40,000 jobs in Atlanta region alone. Also a priority to Atlanta is public safety, including hiring more police officers. Mayor Shirley Franklin states that “this is important to the city, to the state and important to the national economy.”
Meanwhile, Rep. John Lewis, who supports the stimulus plan, states on his website that the bill offers tax cuts to 95% of Americans and that the funds will go to increasing Pell grants, infrastructure, lowered healthcare costs thru technology upgrade as well as many other programs. His website shows as much as $8 billion as being requested to aid in projects such as Head Start; employment training for adults, youth and dislocated workers; Low-Income Home Energy Assistance; elderly services; the Food Stamps Program; and Medicaid.
Critics, however, look at this as increased government spending and increasing to our debt, rather than helping it. They urge for continued stimulus to the private sector rather than government programs. Adding to public criticism is the failure to pay taxes by several of President Obama’s administration choices including Tom Daschle.
Meanwhile, the news reports today that employers have slashed another 598,000 jobs in January - pushing the unemployment rate up to 7.6 percent!! According to CNNMoney, the latest job loss is the worst since December 1974, and brings job losses to 1.8 million in just the last three months. Economists project continued losses and economic downturn in 2009.
President Obama has said that the American people called for change in November and “that's what we're going to deliver”. How do you feel about the new stimulus package? Do you support it or oppose it? Have you contacted your legislators about your views? Share with us, but also don’t forget to share with your US Senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, as well as your district House and Senate reps. You can find how to contact them at www.votesmart.org.
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