by Dennis Kucenich on August 19, 2011
“Does the White House Have a Real Jobs Program or are They Just Making This Up as They Go Along?”
Washington D.C. (August 18, 2011) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today called upon the White House to ‘get real’ on jobs and not wait until September to announce plans to get America working again. Kucinich’s statement comes as President Obama wraps up a Midwestern ‘jobs tour’ that lacked specific proposals, but included a push for the passage of free trade agreements. Aides to the President Obama have stated the President will deliver a ‘major address’ in September, after Labor Day.
“Fourteen million Americans are desperately searching for work. In my own state of Ohio, nearly 9% of the people are unemployed. The American Society of Civil Engineers' latest report card told us we need $2.2 trillion in infrastructure repairs. Just two days ago a record 700 water mains broke in Houston during a heat wave. One million families are losing their homes every year. Millions of Americans are watching their retirement security vanish. We are fighting three wars that we can’t afford and the President’s response is to promise a speech in September?
“The chattering classes who follow the President can wait until September; they have jobs, but what about people who are trying to figure out how they will pay their mortgage and feed their family? Americans cannot wait until September for a jobs plan. It is time for this White House to get real NOW.
“The President of the United States has been in front of the American people on a so-called jobs tour, why has he not used this opportunity to rally support for concrete steps that will truly put Americans back to work? Does the White House have a real jobs program or are they making this up as they go along?” asked Kucinich.
Kucinich added, “Americans need solutions that work. Free trade agreements are alleged to be part of the jobs plan, but the facts on free trade indicate that they result in job loss, not gain. Since 2001, the U.S. has lost 5.3 million jobs in the manufacturing sector as a result of our trade policies. More free trade agreements will send more American jobs overseas.”
Congressman Kucinich is readying legislation to create millions of jobs using the engineering and technical expertise of NASA to develop concepts and to design and engineer wind and solar micro-technologies for license and/or auction to the private sector for manufacture, distribution and maintenance. He is also promoting a second jobs program based on a new WPA which he is now sharing with colleagues. He is also working with Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME) to challenge free trade agreements.
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