Chairman Miller: Eight Straight Months of Job Losses Highlight the Need for a Second Stimulus Package for Workers
August Jobs Report Shows 84,000 Jobs Cut, Unemployment Rate Reaching Highest Level in Five Years

Friday, September 5, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on the August jobs report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which shows that the unemployment rate increased to 6.1 percent and 84,000 jobs were cut – the 8th consecutive month of job losses.

“Today’s news is yet another reminder that American workers continue to pay the price for eight years of President Bush’s economic policies. Already this year, more than 600,000 workers have lost their jobs, joining more than nine million Americans that are desperately looking for work. As separate data released yesterday shows, workers are now working harder for less. In today’s rough economy, this isn’t just bad news – its frightening news for the millions of workers who are working longer hours, taking on second and third jobs, and retiring later in life in order to make ends meet.

“In light of this administration’s failed economic policies – giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy and hoping it trickles down – we need a new economic stimulus package that will create new jobs for workers and help strengthen middle class families. In June, the Democratic Congress took an important step by approving a much-needed extension of unemployment insurance to help out-of-work Americans.

“Republicans in Congress should immediately drop their opposition to another economic stimulus and join us in working to provide additional, much-needed relief for workers.

“Most economists agree that our nation’s turbulent economic times are not over. The combination of high energy costs, rising food prices, the housing crisis, and stagnant wages will continue to put stress on Americans’ pocketbooks. Despite all this, the Republican presidential ticket has failed to show any real grasp of how the ailing economy is hurting families – let alone offer any proposals for fixing it. After eight years of Bush economic policies and eight straight months of job losses, the last thing Americans need and want is more of the same – but it’s clear that’s exactly what the Republicans have to offer.

“American workers and families deserve much, much better. For starters we need an administration that will once again treat workers with dignity and respect, and that believes that hard work should be rewarded with fair wages, benefits, and working conditions. We need an administration that understands the financial hardships facing families, and that has an economic plan for how to address them. And we need a President who will work for – not against – the interests of our workers.”

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