Unions Take Note of Kerry's Vow On Deficit | Washington Post

[Ediacara]

Unions Take Note of Kerry's Vow On Deficit
Plan Would Cut 100,000 Federal Contractor Jobs

By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 9, 2004; Page A17

Sen. John F. Kerry's campaign pledge this week to deflate the ballooning federal budget deficit contains several provisions that could affect the federal workforce.

The presumptive Democratic nominee said he would cut 100,000 federal contractor jobs, cap federal travel budgets, and streamline federal agencies and commissions to rein in administrative costs by 5 percent, among other moves.

"And when we're done, the federal government will be smaller, but smarter, more effective and less expensive," Kerry said Wednesday in a speech at Georgetown University.

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[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Just as it was over Clinton. Except for the Welfare "Reform" Fiasco....

Kerry has a great economic record.

:kick:

[TheFarseer]

2. haven't been hearing much about this

I'm sure repubs will find some ways to be against that eventhough smaller more efficient government is their mantra.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

3. This article makes Kerry look anti-job-creation.

The parts you've quoted do, at any rate. I'm not about to register with WP just so I can read the whole thing.

I know 10,000 government jobs is just a drop in the bucket compared to all the harm done by the Bush admin, but layoffs is layoffs.

[Ediacara]

4. Well as per LBN rules, I posted the first three paragraphs and gave a link

[mobuto]

5. What the article goes on to explain

is that union leaders are in favor of the cuts, because Bush has spent the last three years hiring unionized contractors in order to avoid hiring unionized federal employees. The contractor pool is indeed bloated by Bush's beltway bandits. Kerry's absolutely right.