Congress should include strong 'Buy American' rules in new spending

[Omaha Steve]

http://uawlocal245.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=218:congress-should-include-strong-buy-american-rules-in-new-spending-&catid=35:uaw-national-news&Itemid=94

Congress should include strong 'Buy American' rules in new spending

UAW National News

Submitted by Ed Huddleston
Thursday, 03 December 2009 21:06

Ron Gettelfinger Dec 2009Wednesday, December 02, 2009

by Ron Gettelfinger

There couldn't be a better time for Thursday's jobs summit at the White House. Here in the Midwest, we're still hurting. Unemployment in Michigan is more than 15 percent, the highest in the nation. Other auto-producing states like Ohio (10.5 percent) and Indiana (9.8 percent) aren't far behind.

Behind these grim numbers are real people: Six applicants for every job opening. Laid-off workers facing the loss of benefits. More families than ever using food stamps, and many others lining up at food banks, which are stretched to the breaking point with requests for help from the homeless and the jobless.

To offer real hope, President Barack Obama has to do more than just listen tomorrow. He should talk tough to those who are undermining efforts to rebuild our economy after years of failed tax, spending and trade policies.



For starters, the president has to face down the so-called deficit hawks. The false gospel of "fiscal discipline" makes no sense when there is an urgent need for additional public investment to secure good jobs and sustainable economic growth.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, passed earlier this year, helped prevent a total meltdown of the U.S. economy. The rate of job loss -- more than 700,000 a month when Obama took office -- has slowed considerably. But slowing the rate of job loss isn't enough; we need to add jobs to get Americans back to work.

There's a growing consensus among economists and policy makers that additional federal spending is required. There's no shortage of projects that need support: extended aid for the unemployed, mass transit, rebuilding roads and bridges, and additional investments in clean energy.

This time around, however, the administration and congressional allies need to stand up to phony patriots who wave flags on television -- then work with multinational corporations to dilute the "Buy American" provisions that must accompany federal job creation efforts. Republican legislators, fronting for multinationals, watered down the language to make it ineffective.

FULL story at link.

[madrchsod]

1. you know that ain`t going to happen.....