The Election is Over, Now It’s Time for Congress to Get Back to Work
Richmond, VA– The election is over but the problems remain. Statewide grassroots organization Virginia Organizing, along with U.S. Action and Americans for Responsible Taxes, are calling on Congress to get back to work this month and address the economic problems plaguing our nation. The economy isn’t creating enough jobs, millions of people are about to lose unemployment benefits and people are fearful.
“If the jury ever was out on whether Americans favor a jobs agenda in Washington, D.C., the verdict is now returned,” said Sandra Cook, Chairperson of Virginia Organizing. “Voters turned out last Tuesday in high numbers to demand that the economy be fixed. It starts with a jobs agenda – extending unemployment benefits, ending tax cuts for millionaires and protecting key domestic programs that serve our families.”
Virginia Organizing and its coalition partners and allies will immediately step up efforts to convince the current Congress to extend unemployment benefits set to expire in December, and maintain the Bush-era tax cuts for working families while ending them for millionaires. Over the next couple months the group will hold local events, lobby visits and will participate in a nationwide call in day.
The non-partisan National Employment Law Project estimates that two million Americans, including more than 30,000 Virginians, will lose unemployment benefits by early December if Congress does not extend unemployment benefits. Economists argue that unemployment benefits stimulate growth and create jobs by helping Americans who will put money directly into the economy, especially during the critical holiday retail season.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, extending Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent would cost $700 billion over the next 10 years.
“People all over the country are hurting, and now our elected leaders need to get back to work on the real issues people are facing,” said Ernest Williams of the Virginia Organizing Danville Chapter. “All around this country, hard working people are looking for jobs and families are trying to keep a roof over their head, put food on the table, send their kids to college. The election is over and Congress needs to get back to work.”
Click here to download the fact sheet: Myths and Facts About the Bush Tax Cuts .
