The Republican Party now has a jobs plan. It’s brand new, they say. But the funny thing is that the new plan is the old plan: tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals, tax increases for the poor and middle classes, spending cuts for the care of the needy, and the elimination of corporate oversight. The only difference at all is that the new plan focuses particularly on the destruction of environmental regulation, clearing the way for corporate polluters to profit from spreading death and disability. But what might Obama propose?
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s memo [Republican delinked] outlining the GOP jobs plan was certainly timely. Our economy is facing towering challenges that call for bold, constructive ideas. Too bad Cantor’s proposed solutions are nothing more than a repackaged anti-government screed that seeks to help the pollution industry by repealing environmental and public health standards.
In the midst of a recession spurred by rampant trading in unregulated mortgage debt, Cantor repeats the canards that clean air safeguards are the “job-destroying” villains. At a time when corporations have amassed what the Wall Street Journal called “record cash piles [Murdoch delinked]”— nearly $2 trillion—he says updating pollution controls at factories would require burdensome capital costs.
Both Cantor’s analysis and his remedy ring false. Worse, if adopted his plan would do real harm to real Americans. It could kill.
By blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from updating national smog standards, more than 4,000 Americans could die annually and more than 2,000 could suffer heart attacks each year. In the absence of mercury standards the plan would eliminate, 17,000 Americans would die prematurely, 11,000 people would have heart attacks, and 120,000 children would experience asthma attacks every year.
These aren’t theoretical injuries or ideological blows. These are people’s lives turned upside down.
The safeguards Cantor would get rid of reduce the times workers call in sick and the amount of medical bills we pay. They make the difference between taking our children to school and rushing them to the emergency room. They prevent our cities from being shrouded in smog, and they keep polluters from calling all the shots.
Americans value these benefits, and they count on the Environmental Protection Agency to preserve them. A June poll conducted for the American Lung Association found that 75 percent of voters support the EPA’s effort to set stronger smog limits and 66 percent believe that EPA scientists—not politicians—should establish clean air standards… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Alternet>
Every penny spent protecting Americans from corporate poison is a penny Republicans can’t give to a corporate criminal. For the rest of the plan, Melissa Harris-Perry interviews Professor Jared Bernstein on why Republican tax cuts will not create jobs.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
On the other hand, Barack Obama will introduce a jobs plan next week, and I want to see boldness from him.
Progressive activists are urging President Obama to go big and go daring when he releases his new jobs proposals next week.
MoveOn and around 70 other liberal groups sent a letter (pdf) Tuesday to the president, pleading with him to roll out a jobs plan that matches the scope of the unemployment problem – and signaling that Obama should not unveil a plan whose major selling point was that it could appeal to some Republicans.
“Tax cuts and incentives for corporations have repeatedly failed to put Americans back to work,” the letter says. “It is time to move beyond these half-measures designed to appeal to a narrow ideological minority who have repeatedly shown their unwillingness to negotiate and their disinterest in real solutions.”… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Common Dreams>
I’m proud to have signed that letter. In my opinion it is critically important for Obama to start showing voters the choice they have, and catering to Republicans will not accomplish that. In addition, even if he presents a package made completely of Republican ideas, they will oppose it anyway.
15 Responses to “Nothing New in Cantor’s Bogus Jobs Plan”
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If Ryan and Cantor get re-elected it will really show the sad state of voters in their districts thinking in this the worst job destroying economy of almost 100 years. We have the technology (have had it for decades0 to scrub emissions from plants smokestacks but what the hell your numbers only total 154,000 killed or injured to a republican that is nothing, Just fewer people to be on food stamps and medicaid once they die. and even more jobs they can Boss Tweed out to lobbyists and people willing to slip them their last few thousand bucks for a $10 an hour job boiling their water for them.
I fully agree, Mark. They are a piece of work.
I also signed the letter and am proud of it.
I think Cantor has his head so far up his ass he can’t see the light of day anymore.
But he can tickle his tonsils with his tongue. 😉
I too signed the letter – I keep hoping that O will show some testosterone — I totally agree with TWM – who are these constituents who are so maniacally dumb that they keep voting for these bastards? They are so stupid they are the ones who perpetuate this crap – that’s why I am considering not to vote next year – I don’t consider myself to be among those people who consider suicide “when the rainbow isn’t enough”.
These assholes get elected , in part because informed people get disgusted and dont vote–Please vote–
Phyllis is right. VOTE!
There’s absolutely NO reason for Pres. Obama not to “Go Big” in his jobs speech.
The likelihood of any significant legislation getting passed is zero – so he might as well at least get a “Show-Us-The-Jobs-Bills” club to beat over the heads of repubicans in 2012.
That reflects my view exactly.
The President has nothing to lose by “going for broke”
Amen!
Agreed with Phyllis. What better contrast between Obama going big and the GOP wanting high unemployment and a failing economy in the name of making Obama a one-term president. That is the only thing the GOP cares about.
Bingo!
Stop air pollution — do NOT elect Republicans!
“. . . he says updating pollution controls at factories would require burdensome capital costs. . . .” If updating pollution controls had been dealt with years earlier, it wouldn’t be so cost intensive, fewer people would be sick from pollution, and there would be fewer deahs as a result of pollution related illnesses. The GOP motto: Never do now what you can put off until later!
Suggestion: tie the corporate tax rate to corporation’s US production as a percentage of their total production
I can see one problem with this — corporations might take flight to domocile in other countries with more favourable conditions, countries wanting to solve their own unemployment problems so they offer more tax incentives. Perhaps put a stiff exit tax in place. While I agree corporations have a fiscal responsibility to make profit and do the best for shareholders (some of which are pension plans etc for everyday Americans, others are Republicans because they are the only ones that can afford to buy shares), they also have a social responsibility to the nation. There has to be a balance.
As far as Mr Obama’s plan, he has nothing to lose by being gutsy in his plan. With the Congress controllrd by the Republicans, any measures he proposes are likely to be shot to smithereens. By being gutsy, he shows the American people just what kind of toads the Republicans are (I apologise to toads — the animal variety — around the world!)
Lynn, there’s an easy solution to that. Set a higher tax rate to business in the US for companies that expatriate.
I see you like the new toy! 🙂