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Economic Stimulus Bill Scheduled October 24, 2001 The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to begin debate on the Republican economic stimulus bill (H.R. 3090) on Wednesday, October 24. This bill fails to meet even the most basic test of fairness and we are asking Congress to defeat it. H.R. 3090 provides nearly $100 billion in tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals ($162 billion over 10 years) and no guaranteed assistance for laid-off workers. The bill passed on a party-line vote in the Ways and Means Committee on October 19, 2001. It includes only $12 billion in the form of block grants to the states for unemployment insurance (UI) and health care subsidies. This is grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the over 500,000 workers who have been laid off since September 11, and there is no guarantee that any money will end up in the hands of the unemployed worker under this block grant approach. On the other hand, the democrats have a $100 billion plan to provide 26 weeks of extended UI benefits, a 75 percent subsidy for COBRA coverage and expanded Medicaid coverage for those who are not eligible for COBRA benefits. Their plan also includes $25 billion for critical infrastructure spending that would provide a real stimulus for our ailing economy. Urge your member of Congress to vote no on H.R. 3090. The first vote will be a procedural vote on the rule for debate. We urge a no vote on the rule also, because it does not allow a meaningful alternative to be offered on the House floor (i.e., the democratic substitute bill mentioned above).
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Workers
Lose to Corporations as Congress Passes Economic Stimulus Bill by
Slim Margin Congressional Action Page For phone numbers of your representative. 10/24/01 Economic Stimulus Bill Scheduled Read the AFL-CIO critique of President Bushs economic stimulus package. |
