Millions More Jobs Lost – GOP Balks Again

The US economy lost more than half a million jobs in December for the second month running, figures showed on Friday, making 2008 the worst year for job losses since 1945 and intensifying pressure on Congress to pass a fiscal stimulus.

The number of jobs lost during the year reached 2.6m, while the unemployment rate – 4.4 per cent before the credit crisis – jumped to 7.2 per cent in December, its highest level in 16 years.

There was also a further rise in the number of discouraged workers no longer actively seeking employment. 

Every day sees another large company laying off hundreds or thousands of workers.  Every one of these people are already scraping by.  Most have already exhausted any savings or assets they accumulated during better times.  This will make Americans stronger or destroy them.  How the government handles the recovery will make or break us.

Republicans in congress and senate are balking at many proposals and complaining about democrats meeting in secret.  It is time for our elected officials to talk out of ONE side of their mouths!

Senator John Cornyn TX,R sent this newsletter:

“I will push to enact pro-growth, common-sense solutions, such as tax breaks for small businesses and American families, that will help put our economy back on the right track.

While some would rather delay, I believe now is the time to address the critical issue of our growing federal deficit. The Congressional Budget Office has forecasted that the deficit will reach $1.2 trillion this year, and this projection does not include President-elect Obama’s spending proposal, which may total more than $1 trillion. Congress cannot keep writing checks for future generations to pay, and I remain committed to finding ways to reduce out-of-control federal spending.

Additionally, it concerns me that the Democrats’ proposed economic stimulus package is being written behind closed doors with little input from outside parties. I will continue to be your strongest advocate for a more open and transparent government that allows American taxpayers to know how their hard-earned dollars are being spent.

These are just a few of the issues I will be addressing in the early days of the 111th Congress.”

This is great, except, Cornyn’s track record shows his unwillingness to work bi-partisan issues.  He voted against: GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions,  Unemployment Benefits Amendment , Equal Pay Bill , Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Funding, Oversight of CIA Interrogation and Detention Amendment, Habeas Review Amendment, Habeas Corpus for Detainees of the United States, Lobbying and Donation Regulations, Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (CHIP), Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.  Republican Congressmen appear more willing to work with Democrats to resolve the current crisis facing America.  We all know America is broke.  I do recall our Republican controlled Congress and Senate borrowed and wasted billions of tax-dollars and took billions in foreign loans for war funding, that seems to have slipped into the pockets of their private contractor cronies.  It is time to communicate with your congress person and senators.  Tell your representatives what you are experiencing.  Tell  them that how they treat your situation will determine how you vote.

We can make our politicians just as jobless as we are.  We just need to remind them everyday.