A commitment to opportunity demands that we work proactively to make the developing green economy accessible to people too often excluded from the current career ladders; increasing unemployment makes investment in jobs particularly timely; and an approaching winter of higher than ever fuel costs demands immediate action. By investing in green infrastructure – and in particular by retrofitting homes and buildings on a massive scale – we can provide opportunities for millions of workers, while lowering heating bills, and dramatically increasing efficiency and decreasing pollution and demand for fossil fuels.
Harry J. Holzer
The Urban Institute
As the nation’s labor market slides into a deeper recession, what kinds of employment and training provisions should be included for our least-educated and most-disadvantaged workers? Read more »
Robert Greenstein, founder and executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, spoke at the Center for American Progress on Friday, December 5 about CAP’s proposed economic recovery package. Referring to the current recession as probably the longest and deepest since World War II, Greenstein highlighted the severe unemployment crisis and its relationship to poverty. CBPP recently released a report predicting the number of people in poverty will rise by between 7.5 million and 10.3 million.
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A press release from the Congressional Progressive Caucus, chaired by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) announced the expanded caucus’ priorities for the next session. Among the top issues the caucus will take up is “reducing poverty and promoting economic fairness, including raising the minimum wage to a livable level” and “creating millions of ‘green’ jobs.”
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The Coalition on Human Needs and the Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities have released a report in conjunction with their webcast on the economic crisis.
The report describes about $90 billion in economic recovery measures specifically targeted to assist low- and moderate-income families, including the extension and modernization of unemployment insurance benefits, the development of green jobs, increased funding for Head Start and other early education programs, and protections for renters and low-income homeowners.
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By Peter B. Edelman, Mark H. Greenberg, and Harry J. Holzer in the Washington Post
As policymakers struggle to respond to the global financial meltdown, most analysts suggest that our economy is entering a fairly serious and lengthy recession, with perhaps the highest unemployment rates in a generation. If true, this would inflict economic pain on most Americans — but the most severe effects will be felt by disadvantaged adults, youths and their families.
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The biggest news in the final days of this Congress was the financial crisis and the bailout legislation attempting to respond to it.
We should take note of some items particularly important to low- and moderate-income people, and to all working Americans.
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Speaking before activists and community leaders at North
Philadelphia’s Thankful Baptist Church, Senator John Edwards launched
the Half in Ten campaign by calling on Congress, the presidential
candidates, and all Americans to make the fight against poverty a
priority.
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