U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC RECOVERY LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is being urged by community and business leaders to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, landmark legislation that will assist Arizona as the state faces the largest budget crisis in its history. A vote on the legislation is expected this afternoon.

After weeks of discussion with local decision makers, U.S. Rep. Giffords stated that, “Arizonans are looking to the Congress to move swiftly to stem job losses and protect critical infrastructure like our public education system, healthcare for working families and support for small businesses.  We need to act and act quickly.” 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than 500,000 American jobs are being lost each month.  Passage of this bill is the crucial start to reverse this trend and put our economy back on track. 

Deeply concerned about the nation’s growing debt and deficit, Giffords has urged House leaders and President Obama to stay focused on the nation’s long term goal of deficit reduction.  She went on to say, “Although I am pleased that this legislation contains an historic level of transparency, oversight and accountability which will guarantee taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, I am concerned by the magnitude of this bill. I take seriously the responsibility to monitor these investments closely so Southern Arizona taxpayers see results."

Click here for the details of the transparency and accountability provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In Arizona, the need for federal assistance is underscored by the state’s budget crisis and latest jobless rate.  Faced with a $1.6 billion state budget shortfall, Arizona posted a 6.9 percent unemployment rate in December, the highest since 1993.   

Under the federal economic recovery bill, more than 125,000 jobs in Arizona are estimated to be saved or created by the end of 2010. Arizona will receive more than $6.5 billion in direct state funding. The assistance will be targeted towards areas and individuals in need including:

• $585 million for Arizona highways and bridges
• $277 million for modernization, renovation and repair of public schools
• $1.1 billion in Pell grant funding, assisting 350,000 low-income college students
• $18 million for youth employment and training
• $4 million for low income home energy assistance
• $1.9 billion in Medicaid funding
• 41,770 recipients of unemployment benefits

More than 2 million working Arizonans will also benefit from tax cuts in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through a refundable tax credit of up to $500 per worker or $1,000 per couple filing jointly.  Additional tax breaks include:

• The Child Tax Credit benefiting over 300,000 families with children in Arizona
• College tax credit for approximately 75,000 low- and moderate-income students
• Allowing businesses to improve cash flow by providing a 5-year carry back of net operating losses (NOLs). This would allow businesses to write off 90 percent of losses incurred in 2008 and 2009 against taxes assessed over the previous five years

“State and local leaders in Arizona have a very hard job to do during these difficult economic times,” said Rep. Giffords. “I am committed to working together to help provide the necessary tools to get through this crisis and lead our state toward a stronger economic future.”

Statements of support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup - "The economic stimulus legislation now before Congress will be a great benefit to Tucson. It will help us create jobs for working families and fund critical investments in our future. Local "shovel-ready" projects like the modern streetcar and the Houghton Road railroad crossing and bridge would be eligible for funding. These and other projects will provide both a short-term economic boost during the construction and the long-term benefit to our local economy of a better, multi-modal transportation system."

Tucson Vice Mayor Karin Uhlich - "As Congresswoman Giffords clearly understands, we need to be aggressive in response to today's economic realities," she said. "As we make difficult decisions in the short term, we must not lose focus on our long term future - on the community's priorities for public safety, increase economic opportunity, support for our children and seniors, and for vital infrastructure investments."

Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain - "The economic issues in rural Arizona are the same as we see on the national level. To the extent the stimulus bill can be felt on the job and in retail stores, it will be an important piece of our overall economic recovery."

Marana Mayor Ed Honea - "The economic stimulus plan now before Congress would have many positive effects on communities across the country. I am pleased that Congresswoman Giffords supports this important plan for job creation. The Town of Marana already has identified several projects that could soon be under way and put people to work in Southern Arizona."

Jim Murphy, chief executive officer of the Pima Council on Aging - "It is good to see that Congresswoman Giffords is supporting the House's stimulus package that has so many areas that will benefit seniors. If passed, it will increase funding for meals for seniors, introduce technology that could reduce medication and other medical errors, increase prevention activities and reduce the state's matching requirement for the Medicaid program. These and other provisions will greatly benefit seniors and their caregivers throughout Arizona."

Fred Ronstadt, executive director of the Tucson Utility Contractors Association - "Funding and construction of public facilities puts people to work with dignity, a sense of accomplishment and leaves an important legacy for our children. The Tucson Utility Contractors Association supports federal investment in our region through President Obama's stimulus package. We appreciate Representative Giffords and other members of Congress who are making sure the stimulus package allocates the highest amount of resources to critical infrastructure, getting our folks back to work quickly."

David B. Pittman, director, Arizona Builders' Alliance - "Construction has been on the bleeding edge of recent job losses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this month that construction accounted for one-fourth of the 2.6 million jobs lost throughout the country in 2008. The proposed stimulus legislation includes about $150 billion to be obligated by Sept. 30 for infrastructure and public building investment. Economic studies tell us that every billion dollars spent on construction not only creates 13,000 direct jobs in the building industry, but also another 13,000 in-direct jobs in supply and service industries. That is why the Arizona Builders' Alliance supports the stimulus plan and urges Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to vote for it."

Bonnie Allin, president/CEO, Tucson Airport Authority - "Funding from the economic stimulus package would provide Tucson Airport Authority the necessary funds to complete critical security and airfield projects at Tucson International and Ryan Airfield that otherwise would be indefinitely delayed due to lack of funding. These projects would very quickly help put people back to work in much-needed construction jobs."

Elizabeth Celania-Fagen, superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District - "The federal stimulus package seems to be the only light in the tunnel for K-12 education and its students. We have such amazing plans for our schools, and this money will definitely help us continue to move in the right direction in a time that threatens to set us back decades. Many of our capital improvement plans will ultimately save our district and the taxpayers a lot of money due to significant energy savings contained in the completion of these projects."

David Landrith, vice president of policy political affairs, Arizona Medical Association - "We strongly support the stimulus package because it would have a tremendous impact on health care in Arizona. It would contribute to our ability to provide care to poor and low income patients through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. We are particularly excited about the close to $300 million in the package that will be used to implement the much-needed conversion of paper health records."

John Arnold, director of the Arizona School Facilities Board - "Capital investment in our schools will not only keep our academic facilities operating it will serve every community in the state as a vehicle to bring in much needed dollars and employment opportunities. Managed appropriately, federal dollars would be used to improve our schools energy efficiency; to fix failing systems including roofing, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing; and improve school air quality."

Pima County School Superintendent Linda Arzamanian - "Schools have several shovel-ready projects that have lingered at the state level. The package must be seen as a supplement and not used to supplant the educational funding in Arizona."

The bill also is supported by 146 leading economists and organizations like the National Governors Association, the American Medical Association, the National Education Association, Technology Association of America, Healthcare Leadership Council, and CEOs of Texas Instruments, Tyco Electronics, Motorola, Micron Technology, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Cisco Systems, and Cigna Corporation, to name a few.