Chellie Pingree supports President’s plan to create jobs and boost the economy,
House votes 244-188 to send plan on to Senate

Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of critical legislation to create and save up to 4 million American jobs.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was approved by a vote of 244-188.  Developed with the Obama Administration, this job creation package will rebuild America, making us more globally competitive and energy independent, and transforming our economy for long-term growth; give 95 percent of American workers an immediate tax cut; and invest quickly in the economy.

“Passage of this economic package will mean real change here in Maine.  It provides much needed investment in education, roads and bridges and clean energy development.  It provides a tax cut of up to $1,000 per couple for nearly 500,000 workers here in Maine and, according to an independent economic analysis, would create 15,000 jobs in our state and lower the unemployment rate by 2% by the end of next year.” 

“Today, the House has taken the first step in delivering a plan to implement President Obama’s vision to get the economy back on track.  Action on this economic recovery package will create American jobs now, lay a foundation for long-term growth through clean energy, innovation and education, with strict accountability measures to ensure that taxpayers’ dollars are spent wisely and effectively,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “Now Congress must come together to act and finish the job of sending this job creation and economic recovery package to President Obama in short order.”

“America is facing an economic crisis deeper than any since the Great Depression, with a staggering 2.6 million American jobs lost in the last year and an unemployment rate here in Maine that has climbed to 7%,” said Congresswoman Pingree.

This jobs and economic recovery plan contains targeted efforts in:

• Transforming our economy with clean, efficient, American energy and innovation and technology that will create more than 1 million  jobs;
• Lowering health care costs by funding aggressive adoption of health information technology, which will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and broadening coverage by helping those who cannot afford health care in these tough times.;
• Modernizing roads, bridges, transit and waterways to create 1.5 million American jobs;
• Education for the 21st Century, including an increased Pell Grant for over 25,000 students here in Maine and a higher education tax credit for an additional 17,000 students in our state so that they can stay in college despite these tough times;
• Tax cuts of up to $1,000 to make work pay for 500,000 workers here in Maine and more than $20 billion for American businesses, large and small, to spur job creation;
• Helping workers hurt by the economy, including 70,000 of Mainers that are out of work, those who have lost their health care, and seniors; and
• Saving the jobs of teachers and police officers.

The Recovery Plan has unprecedented accountability measures built in—providing strong oversight, an historic degree of public transparency, and including no earmarks.  The plan also includes [whistle blower protections], which Pingree fought to have included from her seat on the House Rules Committee.

“We know it will take time to turn this economy around, but we are confident that this package will make our economy stronger than it would be without any action,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “In Maine alone, this plan is projected to create an estimated 15,000 jobs by the end of 2010 and reduce the unemployment rate by 2%, according to leading independent economist Mark Zandi of Moody’s Economy.com.  To ensure that these job creation goals are met, the Obama Administration has pledged that 75 percent of these job creating investments will get into the economy in the next 18 months.”