Economic Recovery & Job Creation
As the late, great Senator Paul Wellstone said, "we all do better when we all do better." This must be at the core of the efforts we're making to rebuild our economy. I believe that having a job is not just about income, but also pride and dignity for workers and their families.
Creating New Jobs
The economic downturn has resulted in millions of lost jobs. While some jobs have returned, many Americas are still looking for the opportunity to get back to work. We can address this problem on two fronts. First, we must ensure that unemployment insurance is available as a lifeline for Americans who are actively looking for work. Second, we must pass legislation that creates public and private sector jobs, including the Local Jobs for America Act, which I co-authored. This proposed legislation will create one million public and private sector jobs, secure and strengthen our communities, and keep our economic recovery on track.
The Recovery Act
President Obama inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit and a quickly?declining economy that shed 779,000 jobs in January 2009 alone. The Administration and the 111th Congress immediately addressed the worst economic and financial crisis since the Great Depression by passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – a critical step on the road to meaningful economic recovery.
We passed the Recovery Act to create jobs and rebuild our economy, providing tax cuts to 95% of working families and spending with immediate and long?term economic impacts. The Recovery Act created jobs with funding for infrastructure projects as well as sending billions of dollars to states for education that helped prevent teacher layoffs. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Recovery Act created or saved nearly 3.5 million jobs. Find out more about Recovery Act projects in your neighborhood at Recovery.gov.
Protecting the Right to Organize
I believe that giving workers the ability to bargain for better wages and benefits is an integral part of strengthening America's middle class and rebuilding our economy. On average, union workers earn 30 percent more than their nonunion counterparts and nearly 80 percent of union workers have health care benefits. Union workers are also far more likely to have pensions than their nonunion counterparts when they retire. This is why I'm a strong supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act, which overhauls out-dated labor laws that heavily favor owners and managers by increasing penalties for businesses who illegally retaliate against workers who attempt to form a union.
Recovery Act Projects in the Fifth District of Minnesota
View Recovery Act Funding for MN-5 in a larger map
More on Economic Recovery & Job Creation
WASHINGTON — Only a few high-level congressional leaders are involved in negotiations with the White House over an end-of-the-year deal to prevent the so-called “fiscal cliff.”
Last week, the American people voted for fairness. And with the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ staring us all straight in the face, fairness must guide our decision-making as a nation. Fairness demands that the nation prioritize good jobs, particularly after a decade of the most generous tax cuts for the well-to-do. Investing in jobs is not only the right thing to do, but it will place America on a path to sustainable economic growth. The best way to be fair to working people, grow the economy, and reduce our deficit is to create jobs
Rep. Ellison On 'Taking Back The American Dream'
On March 31 the current funding for the nation's authority to spend money on our transportation needs will run out. This means major roadway and transit improvement projects will be stalled for the foreseeable future and billions of dollars in potential job-creation will be jeopardized, according to transportation officials. Republicans, obsessed with their anti-government ideology, can't even agree among themselves, and it is costing everyone else. Sadly, it ain't the first time.
Saturday marked the second anniversary of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court decision. This decision allows corporations to use their general treasury funds to pay for political advertisements that expressly call for the defeat or election of a candidate.
The ruling also means corporations can donate large amounts of money--even up to the last day of an election--and it has dramatically increased corporate money's influence in our political process.
By Rep. Keith Ellison
I wonder how long House Republicans are going to continue playing ideological games with the economy. Moody's Investors Service announced yesterday that it might begin a review to downgrade our government's credit rating. This follows a failed House vote on raising the debt ceiling with not one Republican voting in favor of the increase.
Public housing can work ... when it's maintained right. But the results have been tragic when public housing buildings are not properly taken care of.
- Right when it looked like the Environmental Protection Agency would score a touchdown by curbing air pollution, it settled for a punt.
Last year, the EPA was on track to complete regulations on the toxic air pollution caused by industrial boilers. But in mid-December, the agency decided it needed an extra 15 months to issue the regulations instead of meeting a court-scheduled deadline of Jan. 16, 2011.
Keith is looking for enthusiastic interns for our Washington and Minneapolis offices for Summer 2011. We are seeking highly motivated individuals ready to play a vital role in a fast-paced office environment while learning about Congress and the Federal Government. This is a great way of earning valuable experience and helping to make a difference by serving the people of the Fifth District of Minnesota.