Pass Jobs Bill, McEntee Urges Lawmakers
May 27, 2010
CALLING FOR VOTES – AFSCME International Pres. Gerald W. McEntee urges lawmakers to pass a bill that will extend unemployment benefits and federal matching funds for state Medicaid programs, and close tax loopholes. Also speaking at the press conference in the U.S. Capitol were (left to right) SEIU Pres. Mary Kay Henry, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (NY) and U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD). (Photo credit: Luis Gomez)
AFSCME International Pres. Gerald W. McEntee on Wednesday joined Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) in calling for immediate passage of theAmerican Jobs and Closing Loopholes Act of 2010. The legislation will permit more than five million jobless Americans to continue receiving unemployment benefits that are about to expire, and help cash-strapped states avoid deeper cuts in critical public services.
“Jobs are the number one concern in America,” McEntee said at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol. The legislation “will support millions of jobs, prevent outsourcing and keep our economy moving in the right direction.
The bill would provide $55 billion to extend unemployment benefits and COBRA tax credits through the end of 2010. The legislation, now pending before both houses of Congress, is being considered at this time because some provisions of the 2009 stimulus bill, formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will expire at the end of this month. That law includes a provision allowing the unemployed to claim up to 99 weeks of benefits.
Both McEntee and Rendell also called attention to the bill’s provision extending federal matching funds for state Medicaid programs through June 30, 2011. Rendell said 47 governors have already publicly called for the extension. More than 30 of them (including Rendell) have already included the anticipated funds in the next fiscal year’s budget plan.
Failure to pass the legislation will deprive Pennsylvania of more than $1 billion, forcing budget cuts that will have a “debilitating effect” on public services and the possible layoff of 25,000 state workers, including teachers, police and fire fighters, Rendell said.
Overall, states currently face an estimated $180 billion in budget shortfalls, which the legislation would help ease.
“This bill provides desperately needed investment for cash-strapped states that are in danger of shutting down public services at a time when Americans need them more than ever,” McEntee said.
Also speaking at the press conference were U.S. Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Mary Kay Henry, newly elected president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Van Hollen, a member of the House Democratic Party leadership, touted the bill’s provisions which would close “perverse” tax loopholes to help prevent the outsourcing of jobs and support economic growth in the U.S.
Learn more about the jobs bill here. Also, read more about the press conference from the New York TimesCaucus blog and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
