Obama, Congress Put Working Families at Heart of Economic Plan

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/01/05/obama-congress-put-working-families-at-heart-of-economic-plan/

by Mike Hall, Jan 5, 2009

President-elect Barack Obama and Congress aren’t wasting any time setting the tone that the nation’s working families are at the center of their efforts to revitalize the economy and rebuild the middle class.

Obama is meeting today and throughout the week with congressional leaders to shape an economic recovery package that focuses on job creation, tax relief for middle-class families, help for the unemployed and aid for states caught in the grip of a tightening fiscal crisis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhSFttshcPk

On Wednesday, the House of Representatives will vote on two bills to ensure equal pay for women and reverse the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that severely restricted the rights of women to combat pay discrimination through the courts.

In his weekly radio address, Obama said the economic package—The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan—aims to

not only create jobs in the short-term, but spur economic growth and competitiveness in the long term….We must make strategic investments that will serve as a down payment on our long-term economic future. We must demand vigorous oversight and strict accountability for achieving results. And we must restore fiscal responsibility and make the tough choices so that as the economy recovers, the deficit starts to come down. That is how we will achieve the number one goal of my plan—which is to create 3 million new jobs, more than 80 percent of them in the private sector.

Earlier, congressional leaders said they hoped to have a recovery package ready for Obama to sign as soon as he takes office Jan. 20, but Republican leaders are slowing action. Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said final votes on the recovery legislation could come by early February.

But action on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act is set for Wednesday. Both bills passed the House in the past session, but Senate Republicans blocked a similar vote in the Senate.

FULL story at link.

[jwirr]

1. Do you know if there is still any plans for raising the earned income

credit and food stamps? This does not help middle income families but it does help the working poor.