Bob Herbert: A Jobs Program That Works

[ProSense]

A Jobs Program That Works

By BOB HERBERT

Is it possible that there is a federal stimulus program that is putting many thousands of struggling individuals to work and is getting rave reviews not only from Democrats but from officials in conservative states like South Carolina and Mississippi?

It may be hard to believe, but it’s true. The program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, allows states to use federal dollars to temporarily subsidize the salaries of individuals placed in private- and public-sector jobs. More than 30 states are participating.

The program, though small, appears to be working exceptionally well. States expect to have placed more than 200,000 individuals by this coming autumn. Some of those workers would otherwise have landed on welfare.

The catch — there is always a catch — is that the program will expire at the end of September if Congress does not act to extend it.

more

Jared Bernstein: If It's Working, Keep it Going!

<...>

The latest research shows that the subsidized jobs initiatives running in 35 states so far will have helped to put nearly 200,000 workers into new jobs by September. The Illinois program, which just started a few months ago, has already placed 14,000 workers; the program has ramped up so fast that they’re now placing 500 workers every day.

<...>

[prolesunited]

1. People want jobs, not a check

I think this is a good idea.

[Spazito]

2. Good news!

Recommended.

[karynnj]

4. Better news if extended

It failed as part of an amendment combined with summer jobs.
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary

Question: On the Motion (Motion to Waive Sect. 201(a), S.Con.Res. 21, 110th, Murray Amendment No. 3356 As Modified )
Vote Number: 45 Vote Date: March 9, 2010, 11:38 AM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Motion Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 3356 to S.Amdt. 3336 to H.R. 4213 (Tax Extenders Act of 2009)
Statement of Purpose: To extend the TANF Emergency Fund through fiscal year 2011 and to provide funding for summer employment for youth.
Vote Counts: YEAs 55
NAYs 45
Vote Summary By Senator Name By Vote Position By Home State

Alphabetical by Senator Name
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Barrasso (R-WY), Nay
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Begich (D-AK), Yea
Bennet (D-CO), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Nay
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Brown (R-MA), Nay
Brownback (R-KS), Nay
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Burris (D-IL), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Coburn (R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Collins (R-ME), Nay
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Corker (R-TN), Nay
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Nay
Enzi (R-WY), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Franken (D-MN), Yea
Gillibrand (D-NY), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Nay
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Gregg (R-NH), Nay
Hagan (D-NC), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Johanns (R-NE), Nay
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kaufman (D-DE), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
LeMieux (R-FL), Nay
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Nay
McCain (R-AZ), Nay
McCaskill (D-MO), Nay
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Merkley (D-OR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Nay
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Risch (R-ID), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shaheen (D-NH), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Specter (D-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Tester (D-MT), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Udall (D-CO), Yea
Udall (D-NM), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Nay
Warner (D-VA), Nay
Webb (D-VA), Nay
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
Wicker (R-MS), Nay
Wyden (D-OR), Yea

[Spazito]

6. I agree and I still have hopes it will be extended...

there is still time.

[karynnj]

10. Some of the Democrats did speak of it being brought up again

I assume that it will continue to be added to bills until it passes.

[Spazito]

5. Deleted and moved to the correct place n/t

[ProSense]

8. Guess a successful jobs program isn't good news to some. n/t

[Spazito]

9. Sadly, that seems to be the truth...

which I find to be quite confusing. I have seen more than one thread wanting job programs yet this news sinks without comment. Very telling, imo.

[karynnj]

3. it's a great program that realy helps - link on when the amendment failed

earlier this summer. The amendment included Murray's summer job bill with Kerry's TANF bill

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans -- along with some Democrats -- defeated a measure to provide $1.3 billion for summer jobs for young people this year and a $1.3 billion extension of enhanced subsidies for poor families with children.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who introduced the amendment along with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), pleaded with her colleagues not to object.
<snip>
Murray unsuccessfully argued that the amendment was paid for over a 10-year period. But Democrats could muster only 55 votes against Gregg's budgetary point of order, five short of the supermajority needed to overcome it. Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Jim Webb (Va.), Mark Warner (Va.), and Ben Nelson (Neb.) joined the Republicans in voting no.

The Kerry-Murray amendment would extend stimulus bill provisions creating a summer jobs program and subsidies for vulnerable families with children via the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The stimulus bill created the TANF Emergency Fund, which provided $5 billion to reimburse states for 80 percent of increased state spending on cash assistance, subsidized jobs and other short-term benefits for families. The amendment provides $1.3 billion to extend the program, which expires in September, until March 2011.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/senate-drops-funding-for_n_491493.html


And because nothing is complete without a link to Kerry speaking on TANF, here is the link to when he introduced it:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=597789750
TANF was in the original stimulus program - Kerry describes it well and speaks of the range of jobs)

(after this it was combined with Murray's summer job program.)\

when the combined bill was introduced - Here is the link of Kerry's 1 minute -http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=597812868, here is Senator Murray's one minute http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=597812866
(The Gregg budgetary point is because the combined bill was not completely offset.)

[ProSense]

7. Yeah, let's

see if those four Dems will still vote against it.

[Spazito]

11. KIck back to the top to celebrate good news!

:kick:

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Catshrink]

13. Be great if they'd support Obey's bill to restore teachers' jobs.

But of course Obama threatened to veto it if it interfered with Arne's plans.

[ProSense]

14. He did. n/t