Politics

REP. ENGEL – JOB CREATION CONTINUES TO TREND UPWARD

Friday, 06 January 2012 14:15

Written by Administrator

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement after the December jobs report showed better than expected job creation, with the overall amount of jobs created at 200,000. The unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest it has been in three years.

Rep. Engel also called for passage of jobs legislation to boost the economy and get more Americans back to work. The latest report, combined with the revised September report showing over 200,000 jobs created, followed by two months which combined for another 200,000, means more than 600,000 new jobs created in the last four months. In all, the American economy has added over 1.6 million jobs in 2011, the most in five years.

Rep. Engel said, “The recent trend towards job growth stands in stark contrast to the near-depression numbers of the Bush Administration. The economy seems poised to continue moving in the right direction, and it would extremely helpful if Congress could give it a hand with a jobs bill. We need to use the recent job growth as a springboard to a stronger economy. The House Republican Majority refuses to work with Democrats, or the President, on legislation to help create jobs. Instead it is fixated on an ideological agenda not on helping middle and lower income families.

“Too many Americans are out of work, but at least the trend is moving in the right direction. Hopefully, we can continue this momentum into 2012. It could have been even better if not for such unavoidable obstacles such as the Japan earthquake and European financial crisis, and avoidable ones such as the debt ceiling debacle and credit downgrade. The fact that we are here at the end of the year talking about real gains in job growth is satisfying.

“There is still much to be done, and it would be very helpful if Congressional Republicans would work with Democrats and the White House to boost job creation through a bipartisan jobs bill. Unfortunately, they show little indication they care to do so.”

ATTACHED – White House provided chart showing private payroll job loss and growth over the last four years.

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Our Guide to the Best Coverage on Rick Santorum and His Record

Thursday, 05 January 2012 08:17

Written by Administrator

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The Basics

Rick Santorum's strong showing in the Iowa caucuses has vaulted him from obscurity to presidential contender. Just a few months ago, Santorum barely merited a mention as Republican voters fell in and out of love with Rick Perry, Herman Cain and New Gingrich.

So who is this darling of the evangelical movement?

Santorum, 53, is devout, hawkish, competitive and polarizing. Social conservatives praise him for his hardline positions. He opposes abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, believes gays should not be allowed to marry, and has said he would bomb Iran's nuclear sites if they are not opened to international inspection. Evangelicals applaud the prominence he gives to his faith [2]. Liberals decry him for many of the same reasons.

Santorum's path along the campaign trail has been unusual by standards of modern politics. A recent New York Times profile [3] of the candidate noted that his Iowa operation lacked a campaign headquarters, a speechwriter, advance team or advertising budget. The Times said Santorum set out to win the "old-fashioned way, through shoe-leather politicking." That involved lots of moving around. In the months leading up to the Iowa caucus, he visited all 99 counties in Iowa, often traveling by himself or with a single press aide [4].

The Background

If you want more than his official stance on the issues [5], you can take a look at NPR's recently listed the Five Things You May Not Know About Rick Santorum [6], including the fact that he jokes about spending his childhood in public housing, has spoken against programs that would pay for community service, and has two nieces.

A long Des Moines Register profile [7] describes Santorum's journey from an ambitious young staffer and law student to 32-year-old U.S. representative of Pennsylvania and, four years later, senator. Here's a timeline [8] of some key events in his life and more on his voting history [9]. He helped author a landmark welfare reform act [10] that gave states more responsibility for administering welfare and put time limits on how long a person could receive assistance. The bill passed with bipartisan support. Santorum was one of the Gang of Seven, a group of freshman Republicans [11] that exposed several congressional scandals. He was elected to the Senate in 1994 and served two terms before losing by 18 points to Democrat Bob Casey in 2006. Since then he has worked as a lawyer and as a commentator on Fox News, a gig that ended when it became clear he was running for president.

Santorum has steadily gained popularity with the Christian conservative base. TIME magazine listed him as one of America's "25 Most Influential Evangelicals," and he recently won the endorsement of several prominent [12] evangelical leaders [13]. This New York Times story from 2005 [14] is perhaps the deepest look at Santorum the Believer, whom a former aide once called "a Catholic missionary who happens to be in the Senate."

He is "at home on the far right of the Republican spectrum" as a profile in the Los Angeles Times [15] puts it. Santorum fiercely opposes gay marriage, calling it a threat to the traditional values of this country [16]. As a senator he fought for anti-abortion legislation -- which is why he calls himself the only Republican candidate with a track record on the issue [7].

Santorum is well known for his colorful and often controversial comments. The website Santorum Exposed keeps a list of his "greatest hits." [17] Here are just a few:

"It's amazing that so many kids turn out to be fairly normal, considering the weird socialization they get in public schools." July, 2005.

"I think it has, as we've seen, very harmful long-term consequences for society. So birth control to me enables that and I don't think it's a healthy thing for our country." July, 2005.

"A lesbian woman came up to me and said, 'why are you denying me my right?' I said, 'well, because it's not a right.' It's a privilege that society recognizes because society sees intrinsic value to that relationship over any other relationship." May, 2011, explaining his view on gay adoption.

Santorum wrote in the National Review [18] that two texts -- the Declaration of Independence and the Bible -- have shaped his guiding beliefs in "the dignity of every human being:" He and his wife Karen have seven children, all of whom they have home-schooled.

Santorum has called for public schools to teach students about the possibility that God, not evolution, was the moving force in the creation of the human species. In 2002 he wrote in the Washington Times that "intelligent design is a legitimate scientific theory that should be taught in science classes." [19]

Controversies

In 2003 Santorum gave an interview to the Associated Press in which he equated homosexuality with bestiality and pedophilia. In protest, one gay activist spread a fake, vulgar definition for his last name all over Google [20]. Santorum sued Google (he lost).

In one of the GOP debates this September, Santorum sparked another wave of criticism [21] for his remarks on the military's policy of banning gay soldiers, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." (He called the recent repeal of those rules "tragic"). He didn't speak up when audience members booed a gay soldier. The gay rights group GOProud demanded an apology. None was issued.

Following the Money

Santorum has raised far less than other Republican candidates, taking in only $1,286,975, according to his page on OpenSecrets.org [22]. That's less than half as much as the next nearest candidate Newt Gingrich, who has raised about $2.9 million [23]. Most contributions came from Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania, according to this New York Times interactive fundraising guide [24], which you can use to compare Santorum to other candidates.

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Governor Cuomo Outlines Plan to Continue Building a New New York by Growing the Economy, Reinventing State Government, and Advancing New York as a Progressive Leader

Thursday, 05 January 2012 07:49

Written by Administrator

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today delivered his 2012 State of the State Address in which he outlined a comprehensive agenda that builds on the success of last year. The Governor launched a new economic development blueprint that invests billions of dollars in key public-private sector partnerships and rebuilding infrastructure to create thousands of new jobs across the state, proposed a reinvention of how government operates in order to get results for the people while protecting taxpayer dollars, and detailed a series of actions to strengthen New York's legacy as the progressive capital of the nation.

"New York State is on the way to coming back stronger than ever before. By working together in a bipartisan manner and putting the people first, we have established the credibility to govern and to lead. Now we must build on what we have already accomplished to begin to undo decades of decline. We have big problems, but we are confronting them with big solutions. Now is the time to get to work, building a New New York together," Governor Cuomo said.

An Economic Blueprint for New York

Governor Cuomo said, "Our challenge for 2012 is this: How does government spur job creation in a down economy while limiting spending and maintaining fiscal discipline? The answer is forging public-private partnerships that leverage state resources to generate billions of dollars in economic growth and create thousands of jobs."

· New York Will Build the Largest Convention Center in the Nation: To build on New York's strength as an international tourist destination, Governor Cuomo proposed a project to build the largest convention center in the country at the Aqueduct Race Track venue in New York City. The 3.8 million square foot convention center would accommodate the nation's largest events, drive demand for hotel rooms and restaurant meals, and create new tourism revenues. The project would be a $4 billion private investment that is estimated to generate tens of thousands of jobs and create new economic activity throughout the state.

· Master Plan for the Jacob Javits Site: With plans for a new convention center in New York City, the Governor called for a master plan for the Jacob Javits site to create a mixed use facility and revitalize New York City's West Side with 18 acres of planned development. The plan would follow the successful Battery Park City model and involve more than $2 billion in estimated private sector development funds to create a new 21st century neighborhood on the West Side.

· $1 Billion Economic Development Package for Buffalo: Buffalo is the third poorest city in the nation with 28% of its residents living in poverty and chronically high unemployment. To combat this, the Governor announced that New York State will offer national and global industries up to $1 billion in multi-year economic development incentives to come to Buffalo. By inviting large investments in growth industries- similar to those which made the Capital Region into a world-class center for nanotechnology innovation and the home of major semiconductor manufacturers- the Governor's plan for Buffalo is designed to create thousands of jobs and spur at least $5 billion in new investment and economic activity.

· A Second Round of Regional Economic Development Awards: Building on the success of the Regional Economic Development Councils, Governor Cuomo announced that New York will keep the momentum going with a $200 million second competitive round of regional economic development awards in 2012. The Councils have transformed the state's economic development approach from a top-down model to a bottom-up, community-based one. The second round of awards will allow each region to continue creating its own economic destiny. In addition, the New York Open for Business campaign will step up its efforts to market New York to the world as a place to invest and will expand its promotion tourism by highlighting regional treasures like the Adirondacks, Catskills, wine country, and Long Island beaches.

· A Comprehensive Approach to Casino Gaming: Recognizing that New York is losing tax revenue, tourism dollars and jobs to neighboring states, Governor Cuomo announced that he will support a constitutional amendment to allow gaming in New York State. An estimated $1 billion in economic activity could be generated from gaming in New York State.

· The New York Works Fund and Task Force: To help create private sector jobs and rebuild New York's infrastructure, Governor Cuomo announced the creation of the New York Works Fund and Task Force to coordinate and leverage capital investment- twenty private sector dollars to every public dollar- and put thousands of New Yorkers to work. The fund will support projects to improve or replace more than 100 bridges including the Tappan Zee, repair work to 2,000 miles of roadways, upgrades to 90 municipal water systems, improvements to 48 state parks and historic sites, and repair work to 114 flood control projects and dams.

· An "Energy Highway" System to Power New York's Economic Growth: To ensure a cost efficient and reliable supply of power is available to fuel the state's economic growth, the Governor announced a plan to build a private sector funded $2 billion "Energy Highway" system that will tap into the generation capacity and renewable energy potential in Upstate and Western NY to bring low-cost power to meet the tremendous energy needs in Downstate New York. The plan also calls for the repowering of old and dirty plants to stop pollution in urban neighborhoods.

· Invest in Solar While Protecting Ratepayers: Noting that New York is a national leader in cost-effective, renewable energy production, Governor Cuomo announced that his administration will launch the NY-Sun Initiative to expand solar energy production in the state while keeping costs under control to protect the ratepayer. NY-Sun will help increase competitive procurement of large, commercial-sized solar projects and expand rebate programs for residential and commercial small-to-medium systems. The program will strengthen the state's energy sector, and is designed to quadruple annual development of solar by 2013.

· Expedite On-Bill Financing for Consumer Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Governor Cuomo announced that On-Bill financing, a statewide program that allows consumers to retrofit their homes with energy efficient upgrades and pay for the cost on their monthly energy bill, will be offered to homeowners beginning in January 2012. On-Bill financing was scheduled to go live in June, but an agreement between the state and utilities expedited the start, allowing for new jobs to be produced immediately and benefits to be delivered to 40,000 homes across the state.

· Master Plan for Energy Efficiency in State Facilities: To promote energy efficiency, save taxpayer money, create jobs, and reduce pollution, Governor Cuomo announced that the State has developed a master plan for accelerating energy-saving improvements in state facilities. The plan is designed to save millions of dollars through new economical energy efficiency measures and would come at no cost to the state as the upfront investment would be repaid from the energy savings. The program will create thousands of high skilled jobs and reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 8.1 million metric tons.

· Farm-NY: Strengthening New York's Agriculture Sector: Recognizing that agriculture contributes billions of dollars to New York's economy, Governor Cuomo announced a series of measures to support farmers and help the agricultural industry grow. To improve access to low interest loans that will assist farmers with infrastructure upgrades, the New York State Linked Deposit Program will be expanded to provide farmers in any part of the state with capital at affordable interest rates. Noting that 1.5 million New Yorkers live in areas with limited supermarket access, the Governor called for expanding the successful FreshConnect farmers' market program to provide more residents with healthy, New York-grown food. In addition, the Governor called for the creation of large-scale distribution hubs strategically located across the state to improve promotion of produce grown by New York farmers.

A Reimagined Government

Governor Cuomo said, "To tackle this ambitious agenda, we need a government that can make it happen. This is not a question of tinkering around the edges. We need a government that performs better and costs less."

· Long Term Commitment to Fiscal Discipline: Recognizing that the State is more competitive when taxes are reduced, Governor Cuomo called for holding the line on spending this year and closing the remaining $2 billion budget deficit with no new taxes or fees.

· Mandate Relief: Noting that by next year, pension costs for schools, state, and local governments will have increased more than 100% since 2009, Governor Cuomo called for reform to the pension system and the creation of a Tier VI retirement plan. The Governor announced that he will ask the joint Legislative and Executive Mandate Relief Council to hold public hearings and issue a package of recommendations to be voted on this legislative session.

Transforming Public Education: New York spends more money on education than any other state, yet places 38th in graduation rates. To reform the state's education system, Governor Cuomo announced that he will appoint a bipartisan education commission to work with the Legislature to recommend reforms in key areas including teacher accountability, student achievement, and management efficiency.

· Redesigning New York's Emergency Management System: The destructiveness of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee revealed limitations in the state's emergency response operations, including breakdowns in communications and transportation, as well as inadequacies in deployment of personnel. In an effort to build the best state emergency operation in the country and prepare New York for future emergency situations, Governor Cuomo called for a new statewide network of municipal and regional emergency responders. The network will improve statewide communications and help ensure that resources can be deployed effectively in emergency situations.

A New York Vision for a Progressive Future

Governor Cuomo said, "New York has a long and proud history as the progressive capital of the nation. It's a legacy that we reestablished last year. We must build on our success this year."

· Foreclosure Prevention Assistance: The financial crisis has taken a serious toll on homeowners across New York State, with many forced out of their homes and others facing foreclosure, Governor Cuomo announced that the Department of Financial Services will create a Foreclosure Relief Unit to provide counseling and mediation services to help New Yorkers stay in their homes.

· Creating a Tenant Protection Unit: To better protect tenants and ensure the tough rent regulations enacted in 2011 are properly enforced, Governor Cuomo announced that New York State Homes and Community Renewal will create a Tenant Protection Unit to investigate fraud and prosecute landlords who fail to maintain essential services.

· A Continued Commitment to Minority and Women-Owned Businesses: To build on last year's efforts to expand economic opportunities for minority and women owned business enterprises (MWBEs), Governor Cuomo announced new measures to continue support for MWBEs. With credit access difficulties hindering the competitiveness of many MWBEs, New York will extend credit to give MWBE contractors the backing they need to succeed. The program will support at least $200 million in contracting for MWBE firms.

· Additional SUNY Challenge Grants: For years, SUNY has been the great equalizer for the middle class by allowing New Yorkers from working families to gain a quality education. To build on last year's efforts to rebuild SUNY through bringing together academic excellence and economic development, the Governor announced that program to allow SUNY's 60 campuses to compete for three $20 million challenge grants. The grants will continue the Governor's work to build SUNY institutions into leading centers of excellence, innovation, and job creation.

· No Child Should Go to Bed Hungry in New York: With 1 in 6 children in New York State living in homes without enough food on the table, Governor Cuomo declared that no child should go hungry in New York State and his administration will do all it can to prevent it. Thirty percent of New Yorkers who are eligible for food stamps do not receive them, leaving over $2 billion in federal funds unclaimed every year. To help these New Yorkers, the Governor announced that his administration will seek to increase participation in food stamp programs by reducing barriers including fingerprinting for working families, and work to eliminate the stigma associated with the hunger assistance programs.

· Create an All-Crimes DNA Database: To better protect New Yorkers and improve the state's criminal justice system, Governor Cuomo announced that he will propose legislation to create a databank to obtain DNA from all convicted criminal defendants that are found guilty of any felony or Penal Law misdemeanor. Currently, DNA is only collected from those convicted of less than half the crimes on the books in New York. The DNA databank as it currently exists has provided leads in over 2,700 convictions and led to 27 exonerations of the wrongfully accused. Under the legislation the Governor will propose, DNA will be key to exonerating the innocent, convicting the guilty, and protecting New Yorkers in a fair and cost-effective way.

· Establish a Tax Reform and Fairness Commission: Continuing efforts that began at the end of 2011 to reform the state tax code to boost job creation and improve fairness, Governor Cuomo announced the creation of the Tax Reform and Fairness Commission to propose additional, long-term changes to corporate, sales, and personal income tax systems, and to find ways to close tax loopholes, promote efficiency in administration, improve New York's business climate, and enhance collection as well as enforcement.

· Implement Campaign Finance Reform: Governor Cuomo called for comprehensive reform of the state's campaign finance system to make sure that all New Yorkers have an equal voice in the political process. New York ranks 48th in the nation in voter turnout and a smaller percentage of New York residents contribute to candidates to state office than anywhere else in the nation. The Governor called for a better campaign finance system that system that includes matched contributions and lower contribution limits, and increase enforcement at the Board of Elections.

· Create an Office for New Americans: To ensure that New York remains a land of opportunity for all, Governor Cuomo announced that his administration will create an Office of New Americans to assist legal permanent residents who come to New York State. The office will provide a variety of services, including helping those with high-skills training and experience obtain the licenses and credentials they need to earn their way; helping those with limited formal education receive access to adult education and job training; and helping new legal permanent residents navigate the path to citizenship. It will also encourage entrepreneurship and take steps to protect new Americans as they transition to full participation in New York's communities.

· Train Leaders for a New New York: To help address the state's human capital crisis, Governor Cuomo announced that his administration will launch the New New York Leaders Initiative to create opportunities for the state's next generation to dedicate their careers to public service. The first component of the initiative, the Student Intern Program, will assign students to a particular branch of government to provide hands-on experience for interns to interact with government leaders and policy makers. The second component, the Empire State Fellows Program, will be a full-time leadership training program that will prepare the next generation of talented professionals who are members of underrepresented groups for careers as state policy makers. The New NY Leaders Initiative is designed to renew the connection between young people and the state and ensure that state government is diverse, talented, and prepared to lead the way for decades to come.

· Protect Reproductive Rights: To continue to vigorously protect a woman's right to choose, Governor Cuomo pledged to fight for passage of the Reproductive Health Act. The Act protects the fundamental right of reproductive freedom and ensures that the rights of individuals to make difficult and personal health care decisions are preserved.

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What Will America Decide in 2012?

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 11:22

Written by The Heritage Foundation

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By Mike Brownfield

Voters in Iowa will caucus today to select their choice for the 2012 presidential nominees. As the rest of the nation watches, Iowa’s choice could help frame the debate for this election year.

And as the voters speak, others are weighing in on what they believe is the best direction for America’s government and policy in 2012 and beyond. Over the weekend, The New York Times editorial page was one of those voices, yet again carrying the torch of the liberal, progressive movement. The Times revealed its dismal view of America and a call for more of the same policies that have left the country in an economic quagmire. “The way to revive sustainable growth is with more government aid to help create jobs, support demand and prevent foreclosures,” the Times writes. “As things stand now, however, Washington will provide less help, not more, in 2012.”

What the “Old Gray Lady” is referring to, of course, is push back from conservatives who do not see “more government” as the ultimate solution to America’s problems. Instead, conservatives see the years of liberal big government policies, increased spending, growing deficits, and sprawling regulations as the root of America’s problems–and a contributing cause to continually high unemployment and economic stagnation. And when you ask voters what they think the government should do to solve the nation’s economic problems, they overwhelmingly fall in the “less is more” camp.

Last week, Rasmussen reported that “Among all voters, 77% want the government to cut deficits, 71% think the government should cut spending, and 59% want the government to cut taxes.” And as Heritage’s Rob Bluey reports, new polling data shows that voters in Iowa and New Hampshire overwhelmingly believe the federal budget deficit is the most important economic issue facing the United States today.

The Times‘ message is worth noting not for the sake of amplification, but for examination. Theirs is the message the left will be carrying in 2012, from the halls of Congress to Main Street America. Thankfully, there is another policy direction America can take. In “Issues 2012: The Candidates Briefing Book,” The Heritage Foundation lays out key issues and policy recommendations for candidates seeking elective office.

On the issue of budget and spending — which is one of the many on top of voters’ minds — Heritage recommends cutting spending now and enacting spending caps, rejecting tax hikes and aggressively pursuing tax reform, empowering states and the private sector, and reforming the budget process. And with some 13.3 million Americans out of work, Heritage offers several policy recommendations for creating new jobs and getting the economy back on track, including ending any suggestion of higher tax rates, cutting the budget deficit, advancing free trade, and repealing Obamacare, among others.

Today, America faces crushing debt, unsustainable entitlement programs, threats of even higher tax burdens, the ongoing threat of terrorism, and instability around the world. It is in the face of these challenges that voters in Iowa’s caucuses will take the first step toward setting America’s course for 2013. Should America continue enacting more of the same policies that have led to its current economic state, or should it adopt reforms to encourage growth and help guarantee a brighter, more secure future? Let the debate of ideas begin.

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HOUSE GOP FINALLY AGREE TO NOT RAISE TAXES ON MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES

Monday, 26 December 2011 08:02

Written by Congressman Eliot Engel

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Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement after House Republicans once again stepped back from the brink and agreed to the two-month extension to the payroll tax holiday, as agreed to by the Senate last week.

Last year, Congress enacted legislation to reduce the Social Security payroll tax by 2% for employees, continue extended unemployment insurance benefits and delay a previously scheduled 25% reduction in the Medicare reimbursement rate for physician services (Doc Fix). Both parties agree that a one-year extension is preferable, but great differences remain on how to do so. The two-month Senate compromise gives time to work out the long-term deal, while not harming American families.

“It is refreshing to see that my Republican colleagues have seen the light and are joining Democrats in preventing a tax hike on middle class families. The fact that we continue having these dysfunctional arguments every few weeks, needlessly taking our country to the brink of economic disasters, is a major reason Congress has an approval rating bordering on single digits. The American people are sick and tired of these games. For once, cooler heads have prevailed and now there won’t be any unwanted holiday surprises for the American people. After the New Year, Democrats and Republicans, in both the House and Senate, can hash out a real agreement for a longer extension. The plan passed by the House Majority is unacceptable, however, and must be altered in order to be signed by the President. Their bill forces millions of seniors to pay more for health care while giving the 300,000 wealthiest Americans another free pass. This is completely unacceptable – we cannot solve our debt problem on the backs of our working families.”

The GOP version of the expiring tax measures alters some key points. It modifies the unemployment insurance program to cut 40 possible weeks (reducing the maximum state and federal duration of benefits from 99 weeks to 59 weeks) while also imposing new requirements on laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits. It adds taxes to the unemployed for long-term need, and disqualifies them from taking part in the Food Stamp program.

“It really doesn’t make any sense to punish people who are already suffering by being without a job. I hope that we can build upon the common ground found today, and find a more equitable way of paying for a longer extension. I also call on my Republican colleagues to fully abandon the reckless tactics when we reconvene in 2012. There are too many important issues we need to tackle – job creation, immigration reform, education, etc. – and we cannot do so by having to face manufactured crises time after time. I am glad to see the spirit of the holidays prevailed today, and I look forward to extending that, as well as the middle class tax breaks, into the new year.”

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