A Study From Congress As Well As The White House
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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I spent September 22nd too 23rd inwards D.C., too I got a amount dose of a metropolis nether assail from the Right too high humidity. On Th evening, nosotros had a coming together amongst Congressional members from California, too I was able to speak to Nancy Pelosi. She stressed how things are hence bad that Republicans are trying to brand the Democrats come upwardly up amongst budget reductions to comprehend the costs of disaster relief. Likewise, at the White House, all of the President’s transcend advisors emphasized how hard the other side is acting too how hard it is to larn anything done.
I asked ane of the architects of the President’s jobs bill, what the direction tin lavatory practise for recent college students too graduates who are facing the triple whammy of skyrocketing tuition costs, giant pupil loans, too piteous work prospects. I likewise questioned why the jobs neb did non but suggest a authorities plant plan that would straight hire millions of people. The President’s economical advisor responded that the jobs neb is the best they tin lavatory attain amongst the Republicans inwards command of the House. He likewise said that he agrees amongst my assessment concerning the deplorable plight of college students, but they wanted to set together a packet that was responsible too achievable. I added that since the Republicans volition block everything except for the taxation cuts, why didn’t the President suggest something clear too bold, too and then allow it larn shot down. [We were told yesteryear White House officials non to straight quote anything from our meetings]
I posed similar questions to David Plouffe, the President’s original political advisor, too Bill Daley, the President’s Chief of Staff. Both of them stressed that the President is beingness responsible, too he is proposing things that the Republicans convey supported inwards the past, too hence if they reject them now, they are exactly beingness cynical. Several of the President’s senior advisors pointed out how the jobs neb volition fund community college infrastructure too likewise assist the states hence they practise non layoff to a greater extent than teachers. In answer to ane of my questions almost the decreased funding for higher education, White House officials emphasized how hard the President too the Democrats inwards Congress had to struggle to protect Pell grants.
I walked away thinking that the direction is underestimating the horrific nature of our work situation. After all, every bit I told several transcend advisors, at that topographic point are about 25 1000000 people who are unemployed or underemployed, too nosotros were told that the jobs neb may practise 1.5 to two 1000000 jobs. In ane of my to a greater extent than aggressive moments, I asked how tin lavatory nosotros back upwardly the President, if nosotros practise non know what Democrats correspond anymore. After all, the President’s recent jobs neb too deficit reduction plan rely on the classic right-wing themes of cutting taxes, reducing the deficit, too reforming entitlement programs. The President’s original political advisor got rather testy when I made this claim, too he went on to listing everything the President has done. I genuinely intend they practise non larn it, too they decline to introduce a clear too consistent educate of progressive policies.
Several people inwards the audience thanked me for my questions too for belongings the administration’s feet to the fire. I was after told yesteryear people working for the President that my questions were heard, too I should remain inwards touch. Later, during a coming together amongst the Department of Labor, I stressed how universities are using the electrical flow economical downturn to outsource work, casualize labor, too ignore basic project laws. I was told that the Republicans are doing everything they tin lavatory to necktie the hands of this administration, too nosotros must move along to highlight the positive things the President has done.
I genuinely practise intend that the President has done some really positive things, but nosotros are inwards a crisis, too nosotros demand bold, clear action. While talking to members of Congress too White House Staff, I proposed a authorities plant plan that would hire 10 1000000 people too would non rely on taxation cuts, subsidies, or corporate hiring. I argued that the direction needs to present that authorities tin lavatory work, too the entirely trend nosotros are going to trim back unemployment to the 3-4% make is if the authorities but hires people. I suggested that the direction purpose TARP funds too coin from mortgage fraud suits to fund a jobs plan without the assist of the Congress. I was told that this can’t last done, but they volition hold off into some of my other suggestions.
To verbalise over how nosotros tin lavatory force the province inwards a to a greater extent than progressive direction, I am organizing a coming together inwards Nov at UCLA. For to a greater extent than information, y'all tin lavatory read my article on an choice jobs neb too the demand to rethink our electrical flow political stalemate. Please allow me know what y'all think.
I asked ane of the architects of the President’s jobs bill, what the direction tin lavatory practise for recent college students too graduates who are facing the triple whammy of skyrocketing tuition costs, giant pupil loans, too piteous work prospects. I likewise questioned why the jobs neb did non but suggest a authorities plant plan that would straight hire millions of people. The President’s economical advisor responded that the jobs neb is the best they tin lavatory attain amongst the Republicans inwards command of the House. He likewise said that he agrees amongst my assessment concerning the deplorable plight of college students, but they wanted to set together a packet that was responsible too achievable. I added that since the Republicans volition block everything except for the taxation cuts, why didn’t the President suggest something clear too bold, too and then allow it larn shot down. [We were told yesteryear White House officials non to straight quote anything from our meetings]
I posed similar questions to David Plouffe, the President’s original political advisor, too Bill Daley, the President’s Chief of Staff. Both of them stressed that the President is beingness responsible, too he is proposing things that the Republicans convey supported inwards the past, too hence if they reject them now, they are exactly beingness cynical. Several of the President’s senior advisors pointed out how the jobs neb volition fund community college infrastructure too likewise assist the states hence they practise non layoff to a greater extent than teachers. In answer to ane of my questions almost the decreased funding for higher education, White House officials emphasized how hard the President too the Democrats inwards Congress had to struggle to protect Pell grants.
I walked away thinking that the direction is underestimating the horrific nature of our work situation. After all, every bit I told several transcend advisors, at that topographic point are about 25 1000000 people who are unemployed or underemployed, too nosotros were told that the jobs neb may practise 1.5 to two 1000000 jobs. In ane of my to a greater extent than aggressive moments, I asked how tin lavatory nosotros back upwardly the President, if nosotros practise non know what Democrats correspond anymore. After all, the President’s recent jobs neb too deficit reduction plan rely on the classic right-wing themes of cutting taxes, reducing the deficit, too reforming entitlement programs. The President’s original political advisor got rather testy when I made this claim, too he went on to listing everything the President has done. I genuinely intend they practise non larn it, too they decline to introduce a clear too consistent educate of progressive policies.
Several people inwards the audience thanked me for my questions too for belongings the administration’s feet to the fire. I was after told yesteryear people working for the President that my questions were heard, too I should remain inwards touch. Later, during a coming together amongst the Department of Labor, I stressed how universities are using the electrical flow economical downturn to outsource work, casualize labor, too ignore basic project laws. I was told that the Republicans are doing everything they tin lavatory to necktie the hands of this administration, too nosotros must move along to highlight the positive things the President has done.
I genuinely practise intend that the President has done some really positive things, but nosotros are inwards a crisis, too nosotros demand bold, clear action. While talking to members of Congress too White House Staff, I proposed a authorities plant plan that would hire 10 1000000 people too would non rely on taxation cuts, subsidies, or corporate hiring. I argued that the direction needs to present that authorities tin lavatory work, too the entirely trend nosotros are going to trim back unemployment to the 3-4% make is if the authorities but hires people. I suggested that the direction purpose TARP funds too coin from mortgage fraud suits to fund a jobs plan without the assist of the Congress. I was told that this can’t last done, but they volition hold off into some of my other suggestions.
To verbalise over how nosotros tin lavatory force the province inwards a to a greater extent than progressive direction, I am organizing a coming together inwards Nov at UCLA. For to a greater extent than information, y'all tin lavatory read my article on an choice jobs neb too the demand to rethink our electrical flow political stalemate. Please allow me know what y'all think.