Senate passes jobs bill with aid to states

 

The U.S. Senate has passed AFSCME-backed legislation to bring additional federal aid to cash-strapped state and local governments. It includes critical funding to help states deal with huge budget shortfalls for health care services -- funding that will save thousands of jobs. The American Workers, State and Business Relief Act will now go to the U.S. House.

 

This bill will bring up to $1 billion in federal aid to Illinois. It would literally save thousands of public service jobs that are currently on the chopping block, but it will extend unemployment benefits for Americans who are still looking for work. It will also invest in Medicaid health services to ease the burden placed on state and local governments by skyrocketing health care costs.

 

Economists agree that this is one of the most sure-fire ways to help our economy, and our country, recover. Every dollar invested in public service creates $1.41 in economic growth, and that means not only more public service jobs, but also more jobs for all Americans.

 

Without federal aid to state and local governments, the U.S. economy will lose 900,000 more jobs in the near future — including thousands of public service jobs.

 

Click here for more information on unions' drive for federal action on jobs.