Economy and Jobs
Information regarding my stance on Economy and Jobs issues.
March 27, 2010
"Once again, Republican Senators are playing games with the lives of people struggling in this economy," Congressman Garamendi said. "How many rent checks will be undelivered, how many serious medical ailments will be untreated, because Senator Coburn and his GOP colleagues in the Senate prefer theatre over doing their jobs? When we return to Congress after the two-week district work period, this delay in needed unemployment insurance and health benefits must not stand, and the representatives actually interested in helping the American people will do all we can to recoup lost payments."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
March 11, 2010
"Nearly a million low-income Californians fail to claim their earned income tax credits in their tax filings, needlessly robbing themselves of money that could go to rent, groceries, or other expenses," Congressman Garamendi said. "The average family qualified for the EITC receives a $1,400 refund, so If you qualify, the money is yours to keep; take it."
March 10, 2010
"By banning for-profit earmarks, Chairman Obey continues an extensive reform of the earmark process," Garamendi added. "Under the Republican Congress, special interests ran roughshod over the public interest, best exemplified by the Bridge to Nowhere proposal in Alaska. In 2005, earmarks totaled 15,800 and cost $27 billion. Under the Democratic Congress, earmarks were reduced in scale and dramatically improved by tailoring them towards the public interest. Compared to 2005, earmarks in FY 2009 appropriations were cut by 30% and their cost was reduced by 60%."
March 5, 2010
"Almost all economists agree that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other jobs bills approved by President Obama and Congressional Democrats prevented the complete collapse our economy last year. Nevertheless, no one should be content with an economy hovering near double digit unemployment."
March 5, 2010
"Once again, where local and state governments are unable to afford needed transportation improvements, we see the federal government stepping up in a big way," Congressman Garamendi said. "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act continues to put our country on a path to recovery through smart investments in transportation, education, health services, and other needed sectors, creating jobs for people throughout our communities. There is much more to do to fix our economy, but let there be no doubt, without ARRA, we would be in much worse shape and countless more Americans would currently be unemployed."
March 4, 2010
"California’s crumbling transportation infrastructure needs this landmark investment to ease congestion and leave a lasting legacy that will serve California well for decades to come," said Garamendi. "Without this and additional jobs bills, most economists agree that the economy could soon slip back into decline. This occurred with both our Great Depression and the Japanese recession of the 1990s. We must learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it."
March 2, 2010
"Since Senator Bunning insists on testing the financial wherewithal of millions of unemployed Americans, the least we can do is test his resolve. If he wants to filibuster emergency legislation that impacts millions of Americans, let him filibuster for real. Lock the doors; hand him a glass of water; and bring in the phonebooks. If he complains about being late for a basketball game like he did on Friday, I know a few thousand constituents with some more pressing complaints directed at the distinguished Senator from Kentucky."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
February 26, 2010
"Senator Jim Bunning and his Senate Republican colleagues have put millions of Americans in the cross hairs of their extreme ideology. By blocking the unemployment benefit extension, Republicans have ripped away federal unemployment benefits from over a million jobless workers who will become ineligible in March. How many homes will be lost because of this unbelievably callous act? How many children will go to bed hungry because Bunning was more interested in cheap theatre than governance?"
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
Housing
February 24, 2010
"With this bill, we force America’s health insurance industry into the same market that we want all American industry to be in: the free market competitive system. This is simple. Insurance companies should not be able to monopolize the health insurance marketplace," Congressman Garamendi said. "For 65 years, the insurance industry has used the anti-trust exemption to collude against consumers, fixing prices and raising rates well above inflation. Enough is enough."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
Healthcare
February 22, 2010
"Standing here on these beautiful rolling hills, it’s encouraging to remember that the exhilarating breezes produced by nature here are capable of providing clean power to 74,000 Californians – nature providing opportunities to protect nature," said Congressman Garamendi, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. "The Shiloh II project is precisely the type of clean technology project that Congress should promote. Environmental protection and job creation aren’t just compatible; with the coming climate change calamity, they’re intimately linked. Like Shiloh II, we must prioritize clean energy projects that green our planet and our wallets."
Issues:
Economy and Jobs
Housing