Archives for February 2012

Feb. 6, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement urging Congress to restore unemployment benefits extensions back to 27 weeks:

“It’s time for Obama to put up or shut up on unemployment benefits extensions up to 99 weeks. He wants to claim that the apparent drop in the jobless rate means the economy is turning a corner. If he really believes that the emergency is over, then it is time to rescind these extensions that have cost taxpayers an additional $275 billion since 2009.

“A failure by Congress to roll back this welfare program will be seen as an acknowledgement that the most recent jobs report is much weaker than Obama is suggesting. 4.7 million Americans who were a part of the labor force have simply given up on looking for work since Obama took office, which is artificially keeping the unemployment rate down. If those people were included, the real rate of unemployed working age adults would be 11.01 percent, and the underemployed would be 17.6 percent.

“Even if one were to look at the data honestly, 99 weeks of unemployment benefits have already run out for millions Americans anyway and the program should be repealed. The welfare state has failed to restore real growth to the economy.

“The solution to the problem is not perpetual extensions of welfare, but for government to enact pro-growth policies that will have a job-creating effect. These include rolling back the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world, undoing the harsh regulatory climate in health care, the environment, and energy, lifting restrictions on capital creation, and restoring sound money.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

Feb. 3, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on the latest unemployment report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“Today’s announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that approximately 240,000 jobs were created by the engine of the U.S. economy, America’s private sector businesses and entrepreneurs. These job creators are moving forward because they trust that the Republican led House of Representatives will stop Obama’s threatened tax increases that would suck the very money that they are using to create jobs out of the economy and into Washington, D.C.

“The private sector job creation also vindicates Republicans who are seeking to end the emergency extensions of unemployment benefits from the normal 27 weeks to the current 99 weeks. With jobs being created, there is no longer any excuse to further extend these cuts that are estimated to cost $44 billion for the rest of the federal 2012 fiscal year. It is time for the American taxpayer to get a jobs dividend by ending these extended jobless benefits.

“The downside of the unemployment report is that the percentage of working age eligible people who participate in the job market has continued a free fall down to 63.7 percent. Since Obama took office fully 2 percent of Americans who are eligible to work have dropped out of the economy – a stunning 4.7 million people. That loss of hope is Obama’s true jobs legacy.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

Feb. 3, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on the continued decline of the civilian labor force participation ratethat dramatically alters the unemployment outlook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“Once again, the civilian labor force participation rate has declined, from 64 percent to 63.7 percent in a single month. Since January 2009, it has declined from 65.7 percent, resulting in approximately 4.7 million people no longer being counted towards the unemployment rate. If they were included, the real rate of unemployed working age adults would be 11.01 percent, and the underemployed would be 17.6 percent.

“Overall, that includes the 12.7 million people that BLS says are actually unemployed, and then 4.7 million who have given up looking for work, plus another 10.5 million who can’t find full-time work. All together, there’s 28 million working age adults who simply cannot find work in the Obama economy.

“It is hard to separate the continued obfuscation of this harsh reality by the government from the fact that we are now in an election year.”

Attachments:

“Obama’s Lost Labor Force,” By ALG President Bill Wilson, Jan. 6, 2012 at http://netrightdaily.com/2012/01/obamas-lost-labor-force/ .

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

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Feb. 1, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens’ plan to move the nation’s vehicle fleet to natural gas is creating excitement in the White House.

President Obama has already unveiled a tax break for commercial trucks that run on natural gas. And this is just the beginning of his plan; he hopes that other tax breaks and subsidies will result in natural gas stations opening up all over the U.S. ALG President Bill Wilson had this to say:

“While using natural gas is in the country’s best interest given the enormous supply available, why should taxpayer dollars be used to encourage vehicle manufacturers to make the switch as well as benefit big politically connected investors?” says Bill Wilson, president of Americans for Limited Government. “This resource is already in demand and the free market will take care of the investment side of the equation. So why does the federal government need to get involved?”

Wilson continues, “As we’ve seen in several occasions, when the federal government props up a specific industry that industry doesn’t seem to last—in the last few months one green energy company after another has gone bankrupt. Natural gas is a positive and plentiful resource available to this country. Let the free market designate its purpose and profitability—not the government.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

Feb. 1, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement praising the Virginia Legislature for passing legislation in both houses that eliminates mandatory project labor agreements imposed by state agencies on contractors:

“For years, Virginia agencies have forced contractors to enter into project labor agreements with union bosses, imposing significant additional costs on taxpayers. Now, that is coming to an end. The Virginia Senate is to be praised for passing Senator Mark Obenshain and Representative Barbara Comstock’s legislation that will eliminate mandatory project labor agreements imposed by state agencies on contractors.

“Senator Obenshain and Representative Comstock have shown their dedication as loyal servants of the Commonwealth’s taxpayers. No longer shall big labor have an exclusive monopoly on taxpayer-funded contracts. If contractors or subcontractors wish to enter into project labor agreements, that’s fine and the proposal would still allow for that. But no business should be forced to enter into such an agreement to qualify for taxpayer funds.

“Now that this legislation has passed, it should be signed by Governor McDonnell immediately.”

Interview Availability: Please contact Rebekah Rast at (703) 383-0880 or at rrast@getliberty.org to arrange an interview with ALG President Bill Wilson.

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