The 2009 stimulus bill created an "Emergency Fund" that allowed states to subsidize jobs via the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF), formerly known as welfare. The Senate voted against reauthorizing the program in March. Last week Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blocked a request to bring up a bill that contained a $1.5 billion reauthorization. Advocates of the program are not optimistic that a change of heart is afoot in the U.S. Senate.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that the program put more than 240,000 otherwise unemployed people to work in 37 states, including 45,000 people in California. The program even has the approval of the American Enterprise Institute's Kevin Hassett, who calls it "a pretty cost-effective way to create jobs."
That's the same Kevin Hassett that both Mitchell Hirsch and I have written about recently. The same Kevin Hassett who thinks people earning minimum wage are being overpaid. If he thinks this is a good deal, that's because the job creation is cost effective, and because the people who get these jobs aren't being paid all that well.
Thanks to the Senate, instead of 240,000 working people, we'll have 240,000 more unemployed people, with little to no hope of finding a job any time soon. Brilliant.
cross-posted at MainSt/workingamerica.org
The idiot who thinks minimum wage is too much and people are overpaid is living in the same jeweled tower as W. The followers of these headcases must also be living there. Just yesterday I listened to a report on NPR regarding the huge cavern that exists now between us and the rich. We've already known this for sometime. We don't require scientists to give us the numbers. We see it at work and living our lives daily. Obama wants to radically overhaul our education system. To do this, our taxes have to be raised. Our taxes have to be raised period. The Republicans continue to breed like rats and remain oblivious to the fact that somehow, our economic and societal structure has to be paid for by WE THE PEOPLE. But they love to promise "No New Taxes", just read their lips! And those people who earn more and have more money should pay more in taxes. Other countries manage to find great success in both public programs and capitalism. We live in a purely capitalistic society with not a hint of democracy. It's an illusion, and until such time as Republicans come to terms with this, we will continue rattling down the rocky mountain as we are doing today. I fear this will not change. I watched the interview with Carol Shea-Porter and Guinta and he was embarrassing as most of his ilk are. I see many troubling correlations between Dems and Repubs but when it comes down to taking care of our nation, our country, our people, the Republicans are disgraceful. If it walks like a Broederbonder, talks like one and looks like one, IT IS ONE! Republicans have one creed only, and that is the five finger mantra "What's In It For Me?" By the way Susan, will you be participating in blog action day on Oct. 15? Subject is water. Thank you for posting educational and informative columns!
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