Thursday
Feb052009
Education leaders and Senators call for passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 1:48PM
A press conference was held today regarding the economic recovery package with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and the President of National Education Association, Dennis Van Rockel.
Investing in education was discussed as the main solution to economic recovery and the road to it runs through public schools, according to the NEA. The goal should be to improve the standards of public schools across America. It needs to be a top priority according to Van Rockel. The importance of giving teachers better support was also a topic that the NEA wants to highlight.
Senator Durbin stated that passing the American Recovery Bill will help create new jobs, which will stabilze U.S economy. The Bill will also build and extend infrastructure, improving school standards and "get money out quickly to the States were the jobs will be created," said Senator Durbin. To give America a way out of the financial crises, we need at least a handful of Republican Senators to step up and say " I will join President Obama and the Democrats to make a difference in this economy," said Senator Durbin.
Senator Lautenberg pointed out that now is the time to change America's economy and the only way is to "get to work." He also discussed the impact the economy has had on everyone and especially workers.
Senator Merkley stated that actions has to be made now, to aviod the result of the housing market crises, employment crises and the decreasing education level in America. "The economy will not cure itself and an example of that is the Great Depression," said Merkley. We cannot sit back and rely on the economy to change by itself, "I'm here today to say that it did not work in the 1930s and it is not going to work in 2009", stated Merkley.
By passing the American Recovery Act the economy will be improved from both short and long term perspectives.
Investing in education was discussed as the main solution to economic recovery and the road to it runs through public schools, according to the NEA. The goal should be to improve the standards of public schools across America. It needs to be a top priority according to Van Rockel. The importance of giving teachers better support was also a topic that the NEA wants to highlight.
Senator Durbin stated that passing the American Recovery Bill will help create new jobs, which will stabilze U.S economy. The Bill will also build and extend infrastructure, improving school standards and "get money out quickly to the States were the jobs will be created," said Senator Durbin. To give America a way out of the financial crises, we need at least a handful of Republican Senators to step up and say " I will join President Obama and the Democrats to make a difference in this economy," said Senator Durbin.
Senator Lautenberg pointed out that now is the time to change America's economy and the only way is to "get to work." He also discussed the impact the economy has had on everyone and especially workers.
Senator Merkley stated that actions has to be made now, to aviod the result of the housing market crises, employment crises and the decreasing education level in America. "The economy will not cure itself and an example of that is the Great Depression," said Merkley. We cannot sit back and rely on the economy to change by itself, "I'm here today to say that it did not work in the 1930s and it is not going to work in 2009", stated Merkley.
By passing the American Recovery Act the economy will be improved from both short and long term perspectives.
Reid: Jobs Bill Will Reach Senate Floor Monday
Legislation aimed at boosting job creation will reach the Senate floor Monday, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
“For Senate Democrats, creating jobs is job number one,” said Reid during a press conference Thursday
Reid, along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.) presented the ‘Democratic Jobs Agenda.' The three page agenda lacks detail, but outlines tax incentives for businesses that hire new employees and provide greater access to credit through lending programs.
“We support programs to help small businesses more easily access the credit they need to expand and hire more workers, to export their products to foreign markets and to create a Small Business Lending Pool to help community banks more quickly lend to small businesses,” according to the text of the agenda.
In reference to losing a Democratic seat to Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown, Schumer said that Democrats have "heard the message of Massachusetts."
“The message wasn't 'don’t do health care.' More than half the people polled said they liked health care and we should do it,” said Schumer. Instead, Schumer said, the message was to "focus immediately on jobs, the economy, helping the middle class.”
“This is a good faith offering on the Democratic side. We are inviting our friends on the Republican side to join us. Bring your best ideas forward,” said Durbin. “Let’s put these on the floor and move on them with a sense of urgency. It is of highest priority of the people of this country. It should be the highest priority in the Senate.”