Workplace & Job Creation

Neighbordhood Stabilization Act of 2008

hmoroz — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:46:16 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Estimated economic activity generated by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Act, in dollars: 38 billion

Estimated employment generated by the act, in dollars: 120,000

Estimated real estate tax collections that will result from the act, in dollars: 225 million

Cost of the Neighborhood Stabilization Act between 2009 and 2013, as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office, in dollars: 8.4 billion

Estimated total decline in house values and tax base from foreclosures originated in 2005 and 2006 on nearby properties, in dollars: 202 billion

Number of rental homes that are available and affordable for every 100 extremely low-income families: 38

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. The Neighborhood Stabilization Act addresses two important problems plaguing aspiring middle-class Americans: the community breakdown that can result from vacant foreclosed homes in neighborhoods across the country and the lack of affordable housing. Middle-class Americans who are current on their mortgages and face no personal risk of foreclosure are nevertheless harmed when a foreclosed home down the street brings down property values, erodes the local tax base, and threatens to become a magnet for crime. The Center for Responsible Lending has shown that approximately 40.6 million homes will experience devaluation because of nearby subprime foreclosures and that homeowners living near foreclosed properties will lose approximately $5,000 on the value of their homes. At the same time, one of the causes of the foreclosure crisis was a lack of affordable housing and the targeting of low-income neighborhoods by subprime lenders. By funneling federal money to local agencies to serve lower- and extremely low-income individuals, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act will help neighborhoods recover from the harm done to their communities by foreclosures while helping to ensure that neighborhoods can accommodate aspiring middle-class Americans. The bill’s allocation of funds to metro areas and urban counties further ensures that the communities hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis receive much needed relief. Providing funds for rental properties, along with protections for renters of foreclosed properties, recognizes that the foreclosure crisis affects aspiring middle-class and middle-class renters as well as homeowners.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

“Subprime Spillover”, from the Center for Responsible Lending

“Out of Reach”, a guide to rents and the lack of affordable housing from the National Low Income Housing Coalition

Center for American Progress on Neighborhood Stabilization

Civil Rights Act of 2008

hmoroz — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:04:56 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act

atraub — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:44:25 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

hmoroz — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:35:58 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Number of senior citizens who would receive tax rebates under this bill but not the House stimulus bill, according to the Senate Majority Leader: 21.5 million

Approximate number of workers nationwide projected to run out of unemployment benefits before finding work in the first six months of 2008 unless benefits are extended: 1.3 million

Amount of stimulus produced for every $1 spent on extending emergency federal unemployment insurance benefits: $1.64

Amount of stimulus produced for every $1 in tax cuts targeted to low-income households: $1.19

Amount of stimulus produced for every $1 in tax cuts provided through a business investment write off policy: $0.24

Number of different stimulus policies implemented under President Bush that were more effective per public dollar than business investment incentives, according to an Economy.com study: 7

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. There is increasing evidence that the economy faces a high risk of recession which could throw millions of middle-class Americans out of work, reduce income and health insurance coverage, and increase poverty. A smart economic stimulus plan could prevent the downturn or soften its effects, but not just any stimulus package will do. To be effective, an economic stimulus package must direct money to those who will spend it quickly, boosting consumer demand and prompting increased production and economic growth. This Senate bill provides even more effective stimulus than the House legislation because the tax rebates are even more closely targeted to cash-strapped middle-class and aspiring middle-class Americans, who are more likely than wealthier people to spend the money they receive immediately, rather than saving it. The inclusion of seniors living on Social Security and veterans living on disability benefits is important for the same reason: not only is it an issue of basic fairness to include these groups but, because they are likely to spend the money quickly, their inclusion compounds the stimulative impact.

The extension of unemployment benefits and the expansion of funding for low-income heating assistance are extremely positive additions to the bill. Unemployment benefits provide direct assistance to the current and aspiring middle-class Americans likely to be hardest hit by an economic downturn while also providing the most cost-effective boost to the economy. Unemployment is already on the rise and it takes longer to find work during an economic downturn when jobs are scarce. People who are out of work tend to spend nearly all of the money they receive in government benefits very quickly, so unemployment benefits provide the quick jolt to consumer spending that the economy needs. What’s more, extending unemployment benefits is one of the most effective stimulus measures yet conceived, providing $1.64 in stimulus for every dollar spent. Meanwhile home heating assistance eases the burden on current and aspiring middle-class families trying to pay high energy bills, freeing up cash that can be spent on other necessities.

The renewable energy tax incentives in the bill are not likely to be effective as short-term economic stimulus, but do represent an important investment in the nation’s energy future. Meanwhile, the business tax cuts, a product of negotiation between the Bush Administration and Congress, are less positive for the middle class because they provide little stimulative effect but deprive the public of significant revenue and increase deficits. Offering tax incentives for business investment frequently fails to generate substantial economic growth because many businesses use the tax cuts for investments they planned to undertake anyway, costing the public lost revenue but creating no additional economic activity. Another drawback is that it takes considerable time for businesses to make new investments and for investments to result in increased employment or purchasing. Yet to be most effective, economic stimulus should have a rapid impact on the economy. Finally, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities points out that business incentives harm state budgets, since state and federal tax codes are linked. Many states are already facing a revenue crunch due to the economic downturn and, unlike the federal government, cannot run budget deficits. The result could be cuts in state and local services that middle-class Americans rely on, from education to road maintenance to public safety.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

“Senate Finance Committee Measure More Effective As Stimulus Than House Bill, Despite Some Problems,” from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities

“Strategy for Economic Rebound: Smart Stimulus to Counteract the Economic Slowdown,” from the Economic Policy Institute

“Options for Responding to Short-Term Economic Weakness,” from the Congressional Budget Office

Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008

atraub — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:06:08 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Amount of stimulus produced for every $1 in tax cuts targeted to low-income households: $1.19

Amount of stimulus produced for every $1 in tax cuts provided through a business investment write off policy: $0.24

Amount of stimulus produced for every $1 spent on extending emergency federal unemployment insurance benefits: $1.73

Amount of stimulus produced for every $1 spent on state government aid: $1.24

Minimum amount of revenue states are projected to lose as a result of the investment incentives, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities: $4 billion

Percentage of businesses in a 2006 survey that said that bonus depreciation, a type of investment incentive implemented in the past, was an important factor in their decisions about investment level or timing: 10

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. There is increasing evidence that the economy faces a high risk of recession which could throw millions of middle-class Americans out of work, reduce income and health insurance coverage, and increase poverty. A smart economic stimulus plan could prevent the downturn or soften its effects, but not just any stimulus package will do. To be effective, an economic stimulus package must direct money to those who will spend it quickly, boosting consumer demand and prompting increased production and economic growth. For this reason, the household tax rebates are likely to be effective, if the checks can be sent quickly. It is particularly significant that the rebates are targeted to cash-strapped middle-class and aspiring middle-class Americans, who are more likely than wealthier people to spend the money they receive immediately, rather than saving it. It is also important that Americans relying on Social Security or disability benefits be included, both as an issue of basic fairness and because these groups are likely to spend their rebates quickly.

The increases in FHA, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae mortgage limits are also helpful because they help these entities keep up with the current housing market. By buying and insuring loans, the FHA, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae create viable refinance options for middle-class Americans who have been targeted by predatory loan practices and would otherwise be trapped in unaffordable adjustable rate mortgages and other abusive loan products.

The business tax cuts, a product of negotiation between the Bush Administration and Congress, are less positive for the middle class because they provide little simulative effect but would deprive the public of significant revenue and increase deficits. Offering tax incentives for business investment frequently fails to generate substantial economic growth because many businesses use the tax cuts for investments they already planned to undertake anyway, costing the public lost revenue but creating no additional economic activity. Another drawback is that it takes considerable time for businesses to make new investments and for investments to result in increased employment or purchasing. Yet to be most effective economic stimulus should have a rapid impact on the economy. Finally, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities points out that business incentives harm state budgets, since state and federal tax codes are linked. Many states are already facing a revenue crunch due to the economic downturn and, unlike the federal government, they cannot run budget deficits. The result could be cuts in state and local services that middle-class Americans rely on, from education to road maintenance to public safety.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

“Strategy for Economic Rebound: Smart Stimulus to Counteract and Economic Slowdown,” from the Economic Policy Institute

“Options for Responding to Short-Term Economic Weakness,” from the Congressional Budget Office

“Assessing President Bush’s Fiscal Policies,” from Economy.com

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007

atraub — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:10:31 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Year in which Ledbetter received a “Top Performance” award from the company: 1996

Amount Lilly Ledbetter was paid per month in 1997, the last full year she worked for Goodyear Tire Co.: $3,727

Amount the lowest paid of the 15 men doing similar work for the company was paid per month in 1997: $4,286

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, male workers in 2006: $42,261

Median annual earnings for U.S. full-time, year-round, female workers in 2006: $32,515

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. Current and aspiring middle-class Americans need the protection of strong anti-discrimination laws to ensure that they are treated fairly by employers. But the mere existence of these laws is not sufficient: the practical ability to enforce them in a meaningful way is crucial. By clarifying a technicality in employment discrimination law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act deters discriminatory practices in the workplace and ensures that when discrimination does occur, wronged employees can receive fair compensation.

This legislation clarifies that employment discrimination law should be interpreted the way courts have traditionally understood it – until the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a more restrictive interpretation in the 2007 Ledbetter V. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. decision. In this case, the Court ruled that plaintiff Lilly Ledbetter was not eligible for compensation despite years of being paid far less than her male peers and even some male subordinates. According the Court, unlawful discrimination had occurred only when her employer first set the discriminatory pay rate, even though Ledbetter had no way of knowing about it until years later. Under this ruling, since Ledbetter’s employer was able to conceal the discrimination for years and she did not find out about the discrimination until it was too late to file a complaint (within 180 days of the first discriminatory paycheck, according to the Court), she had no legal recourse. By reaffirming that a fresh discrimination offense occurs each time an individual is impacted by a discriminatory practice, including each paycheck that includes unfair compensation, this legislation effectively reverses the Supreme Court’s harmful decision and ensures that people subjected to discrimination in the future will continue to have effective recourse to the law.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. with links to the majority opinion and dissent

The National Committee on Pay Equity

“Signing Off on Discrimination” from the Center for American Progress

United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act of 2007

atraub — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:41:58 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Opposes

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

United States trade deficit as of August 2007: $57.6 billion

Minimum monthly wage in Peru, in U.S. dollars: $155

Estimated percentage of increased inequality of earnings in the U.S. in 2006 attributable to trade policy: 7

Minimum annual loss this represents to the typical married couple household in the U.S.: $2,000

Approximate proportion of U.S. workers whose jobs are potential targets for off-shoring if present trade policies continue over the next two decades: 1 in 4

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Opposes. Increased international trade can contribute to economic growth, but the way trade rules are formulated in agreements like this means that the benefits of trade are distributed unevenly, ultimately undermining the middle class and aspiring middle class in both the U.S. and the nations it trades with. A central problem is that the Peru trade agreement empowers businesses and investment capital to cross international borders more easily, providing a decisive advantage over working people who are not so internationally mobile and whose rights are not equally well protected in all of the nations covered by the agreement. This imbalance of power creates incentives to move U.S. jobs overseas and puts downward pressure on the wages of American workers as they are placed in more direct competition with poorly-paid, disempowered Peruvian workers.

The new provisions on labor rights in this agreement represent a step in the right direction, but are unlikely to make a significant impact on Peru’s poor labor rights practices: while Peru must agree to follow a set of labor rights principles, such as eliminating employment discrimination and forced labor, it is not bound to any specific agreed-upon standards. At the same time, Mexico’s twelve years of experience with NAFTA suggest that the average person in Peru will also see their standard of living decline under this agreement. In the U.S., the experience of NAFTA suggests that more jobs will be lost due to displaced domestic production than will be gained due to export growth. The deal also raises concerns about food safety for middle-class consumers especially because the imports of largely untested Peruvian seafood are expected to increase dramatically.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

“Final Text of the United States - Peru Trade Promotion Agreement” from the Office of the United States Trade Representative

“Peru, Panama & Colombia FTAs: NAFTA Expansion to the Rainforest and Beyond” from Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch

“US-Peru Free Trade Agreement” from the Citizens Trade Campaign

Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act of 2007

atraub — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:47:17 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Healthy Families Act of 2007

atraub — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:24:10 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Employee Free Choice Act of 2007

atraub — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:28:45 -0400

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Percentage of petitions filed with the NLRB in which the majority of workers indicated they wanted a union before the process began: 91

Percentage of these campaigns where the employees actually gained union representation: 31

Chance that an active union supporter will be illegally fired for union activity during an organizing campaign: 1 in 5

Percentage of employers that force employees to attend mandatory anti-union meetings during a union organizing drive: 92

Percentage of companies that threaten to close the worksite if the union wins the election: 51

Percentage of companies that actually do close after a successful union election: 1

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports.Unions were instrumental in creating the American middle class as we know it, and today they continue to empower millions of Americans to bargain for wages and benefits that are capable of sustaining a middle-class standard of living. Union jobs are significantly more likely to offer dignified wages; sick, family, and vacation leave policies; health care; and retirement plans. In areas where unions represent a high proportion of workers in a particular industry, they can even help to raise industry standards across-the-board, improving wages and job quality even for workers who don't belong.

Yet the system meant to protect the rights of employees to join unions no longer functions. Sluggish and weak enforcement of labor rights permits employers to routinely break the law, harassing and intimidating employees who try to organize. Illegal bribes, threats, and even the firing of union organizers are commonplace. Employees who dare to stand up for their right to join a union can face years of unemployment when they are illegally fired, while employers face virtually no penalty for denying their employees’ basic legal rights. By strengthening penalties and replacing the easily abused mechanism of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections with a streamlined employee sign-up procedure, the Employee Free Choice Act would restore Americans’ ability to choose union representation. In every workplace where a majority of employees want union representation, they could join easily, and begin to bargain for the pay and benefits that would enable them to enter the middle class.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

The AFL-CIO on the Employee Free Choice Act

American Rights at Work on the Employee Free Choice Act

“The Employee Free Choice Act: Impact on Health Care and Pension Benefits,” by Alex Carter and Eric Lotke from the Campaign for America’s Future

Workplace & Job Creation

Neighbordhood Stabilization Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Civil Rights Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act of 2007