Iowa Local Action
Get Involved
Call Senator Grassley and Representatives King and let them know that we need economic stimulus that helps real people.
Grassley-(202) 224-3744; King-202.225.4426; Latham-202-225-5476
Working Families Win along with our coalition partners have put together information on what we think the priorities should be as congress takes up economic stimulus. You are free to use this information as you develop your own questions.
Economic Recovery Package
Ø Aid to States is desperately needed.
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Ø Direct aid to states is needed to prevent cuts to vital state services. And direct aid will be more effective in helping the economy that loans to the states as some in Congress have proposed.
Ø Investing in public services now means job creation and economic growth.
Ø Low Income Energy: $6.2 billion for weatherization and $1 billion LIHEAP
Ø Local Emergency Needs: $1 billion for Community Service Block Grant (CSBG)
Ø Invest in the Future: Include $4.3 billion in new funding for Head Start/Early Head Start and $3 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant
Ø Fight hunger: Temporarily increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by 20 percent for two years
Ø Protect health care: Temporarily assist states to help with health care with no less than $100 billion for Medicaid
Ø Funding for the TANF contingency fund is essencial for meeting the needs of the lowest income working families, keeping them in the workforce and meeting their families' needs.
Ø Unemployment Benefits must be extended greatly & funds must be made available for job training
o The steep increase of 632,000 in unemployment for December pushed that figure to its highest level since 1945, and underscored the urgency for an aggressive, swift and large enough economic recovery plan to reverse the downward economic trends. We need to be thinking bigger and bolder. The current proposal to create 3 million new jobs is only enough to maintain current levels of unemployment..
o Leading economic expert Mark Zandi, who advised Senator McCain during the campaign, supports President-Elect Obama’s recovery plan because for every dollar invested in public services, we get $1.38 in economic growth. He gets even more specific. It may sound strange, but for every dollar spent on unemployment benefits, the economy grows by $1.63. And if we extend unemployment benefits through the end of this year and allow more jobless Americans to qualify for benefits, we would protect or create about 168,000 jobs over 2 years. That’s because if people have money in their pockets, they will spend it.
Ø Using a large proportion of the package for tax breaks and credits for businesses is wasteful and unnecessary, and will not create the long-term jobs that we need.
Ø Issues related to the economic recovery, but not a part of the Obama package per say:
o –Working Families Win calls for the passage of TRADE ACT and thanks Representative Braley for his sponsorship of this bill. We all know that trade is a necessary part of the globalized world we now live in, unfortunately agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have failed to serve the majority of people and have come at far too high of a price for our workers, health, and environment. Something needs to change and this new bill provides a blueprint for how responsible trade agreements should be negotiated and implemented.--
o We thank you for your support for expansion of the SCHIP program including coverage for legal immigrant children. We greatly appreciate your support and leadership on SCHIP. Spending for this program, especially with rising unemployment, will go a long way toward improving
o We must pass the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure that those who wish to join a Labor Union are free to do so without the unnecessary interference of corporate union busters. It is a fact that workers who are a member of a labor union make batter wages, worker in a safer environment, have better benefits, and become valuable leaders in our communities.
o We must pass health care reform that provides affordable and geographically accessible health care that is of high quality to all in the
1. In order to avoid cuts in state services, which will prolong and deepen the recession, aid to states (especially Medicaid match) is vital.
2. Funding for the TANF contingency fund, the child care development block grant (CCDBG) and head start are our second priority. TANF and are directed at meeting the needs of the lowest income working families, keeping them in the workforce and meeting their families' needs. While Head Start provides immediate employment for head start teachers it also is a vital investment in our future by making sure children enter school ready to learn and succeed in obtaining a quality education making them our skilled workforce of the future.
Get Active Now
Working Families Win - Iowa is organizing around the issues of guaranteed health care, jobs and wages, and the need for a fair trade policy.
Find out more about WFW's work on our issues page.
Educate yourself, then educate your friends and neighbors. Use the resources on WFW's issues and resources pages. Then write your local newspaper with a letter to the editor or contact your elected officials to speak your mind or even host a house meeting with friends and family to help spread the word.