Model state resolution on jobs crisis

Model resolution calling on the President and Congress to enact a comprehensive job creation and state fiscal relief plan (Progressive States Network)

A resolution to memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to enact a new, broad-based job creation plan, including significant additional fiscal relief to states and local governments to foster economic growth and create and maintain jobs across the nation.

Whereas, almost eight million more Americans are unemployed today than at the start of the recession in December 2007,

Whereas, the number of Americans who are unemployed or underemployed has reached over 27 million,

Whereas, state tax revenues dropped nine percent during fiscal year 2009, the largest decline since the years directly following World War II,

Whereas, states are facing an estimated $350 billion budget shortfall in 2010 and 2011,

Whereas, teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and many workers across the state face the dire prospect of job loss during a time of economic uncertainty,

Whereas, families will have to deal with the reality of budget cuts: larger class sizes, an inferior educational asystem, reduced health care and safety services, and generally diminished quality of vital public programs,

Whereas, further budget cuts will only deter consumer demand, discourage private industry activity, lead to higher unemployment, and hamper overall economic growth,

Be it resolved by the [House of Representative or Senate] of the State of _______________________, that we hereby memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to take proactive steps to create jobs and enact fiscal relief for state and local governments to foster growth, avoid further budget catastrophe, ensure that states perform the core functions that all American families deserve, and deliver jobs to Americans on Main Street,

Be it further resolved, that any job creation and state fiscal relief plan must include extending FMAP increases for Medicaid, providing additional support for education, boosting funding for infrastructure projects and public transportation investments, supporting the long-term unemployed to sustain them until they reenter the workforce, and providing direct financial assistance to state and local governments to perform the vital services needed to maintain growth in local communities across the nation,

And be it further resolved, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of (state) congressional delegation.

Posted by Chuck Bell at 6:27 AM