Congressman Rahm Emanuel - Press Release Header

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
October 3, 2008
 

Emanuel Calls Rescue Package “First Step”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), released the following statement delivered on the House floor:

“In the past week, we negotiated what the financial markets needed and what the public market wanted—taxpayer protection.

“This is only the first step.  While we address the balance sheets of banks, the next step must now address the checkbook for middle class families and the struggles that they face.

The middle class today is working harder, earning less, and paying more. In the last 7 years, median household income has dropped by $1200 and costs for energy, health care, as well as college education has gone up $4800. 

The middle class is hurting and squeezing.  And the second economic program must put their needs at the heart of what we do.  Because today is important, to have universal access to savings, universal access to higher education, a middle class tax cut.  If you work, you have health care.  And we must build an energy policy that makes this a hybrid economy.

An agenda that puts the middle class at the heart of its economic strategy, unlike the last seven years, will make sure that what we’re doing today is successful in the future, because we must strengthen the economy while we save and deal with the financial markets crisis on this short term basis.”

###

Back to Home Page