Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery Steps Up Efforts to Pass Obama Plan
Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeremy Funk, 605-366-3654 DATE: December 29th, 2008 ***Media Advisory for Tuesday, December 30th*** Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery Steps Up Efforts to Pass Obama Plan
http://www.JobsandEconomicRecovery.com Washington, DC – The Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery today announced the latest wave of activity urging Congress to pass the jobs and economic recovery package being proposed by President-Elect Barack Obama and Congressional Leaders. In addition to events at food pantries and targeted conference calls (see details below) calling on Members of Congress with potentially decisive votes to support the Obama plan, the campaign under the leadership of Americans United for Change, is preparing a flight of paid advertising and a barrage of phone calls and emails to be lobbed into Congress. Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change: “We are making sure that while Members of Congress are home enjoying the holidays, they see and hear from their constituents who have less to be thankful for in the worst economy since the Great Depression. We hope they resolve this New Year to put the nation ahead of partisan politics by supporting President-Elect Obama’s bold economic recovery plan that will create or save 3 million jobs through solid and sound long-term investments in health care, energy efficiency, transportation and education.” As joblessness and food prices continue to go up while wages continue to go down, millions more Americans are seeking the help of SNAP/Food Stamp benefits. According to The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), in nearly one-half of the states (22 states plus the District of Columbia ), at least one in ten residents was receiving SNAP/Food Stamp benefits. In response, throughout the holiday season as part of the campaign, food pantries are using the increased demand for their services as a way to highlight the need for a jobs and economic recovery. The increased activity and demand for food which has occurred for months has been called the canary in the coal mine providing proof positive how severe the recession has been on American families and why congress must pass the Obama plan for jobs and economic recovery package. The Food Research and Action Center, a leading national anti hunger group, coordinated the food pantry activities in an effort to get congress to pass the Obama plan to create or save 3 million jobs - the surest way to fight hunger. FRAC is also supporting funding for anti-hunger programs as part of the plan congress is expected to take up as early as next week. In addition, the Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery is hosting a series of press conference calls this week with local progressive and labor leaders urging their Representatives and Senators to cast key, if not deciding, votes for the Obama plan: Iowa WHO: Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Cedar Rapids Mayor Kay Halloran Congressional Target: U.S. Senator Charles Grassley WHEN: Tuesday, December 30, 2008, 10:30 a.m. Call-in: 888-325-3989 Passcode: 585071 Contact: John Cacciatore, 515-224-8957 Minnesota: WHO: Jeff Bauer - Family and Children Services of MN MPLS Councilmember Gary Schiff Dave Snyder - Jewish Community Action Donald McFarland - Americans United for Change Congressional Targets: Congressman-elect Erik Paulsen (MN-3) Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-6) WHEN: Tuesday, December 30th at 12:30 ET (11:30 Central) Call-in: 888-325-3989; Passcode: 585071 Contact: Donald McFarland, 651.308.8098 OHIO WHO: Progress Ohio Congressional Target: U.S. Senator George Voinovich WHEN: Tuesday, December 30th at 2:30PM EST Call-in:(616)597-8000; Passcode: 301859. Contact: Brian Rothenberg,
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Indiana WHO: David Warrick executive director of AFSCME CN 62 Ken Zeller president Indiana State AFL-CIO Joann Sanders Minority leader of the City County Council Indianapolis Pastor Richard Willoughby president of the Concern Clergy Of Greater Indianapolis Allison Luthe community organizer for Central Indiana Jobs With Justice Dionne Leslie executive director of The Christamore House Sharon Dunson President of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus Regina Marsh executive director of Forest Manor Community Center Congressional Target: U.S. Senator Richard Lugar WHEN: Tuesday, December 30th at 10AM, EST Dial-in: 888-830-6260 Passcode: 248719 Contact: Blaine Rummel, 202-429-1000 NEVADA WHO: N. Nevada Assemblyman David Bobzien NLV City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson Clark County commissioner Tom Collins Congressional Target: U.S. Senator John Ensign WHEN: Tuesday, December 30th at 3PM, PST Call-in: 888-325-3989 Passcode: 585071 Contact: Rebecca Maxie, 702-372-2935 Addressing the worst economic crisis the nation has seen since the Great Depression, President-Elect Obama, during his December 6th radio address, outlined priorities to be included in his economic recovery plan, including the single largest investment in U.S. national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s, as well as investments towards making public buildings more energy-efficient, upgrading and modernizing school buildings, and modernizing our health care system – smart, long term investments that will help create or save at least three million jobs within 2 years, encourage a stronger future economy, and boost America's hurting middle-class families. The plan is said to include careful, targeted spending with strong “use it or lose it” accountability measures. More than 20 leading progressive organizations and unions with millions of members have signed onto run a major campaign to pass a significant jobs and economic recovery package to create millions of jobs and help the economy grow in the near and long term. To date, the following organizations have signed on the Campaign for Jobs and Economic Recovery Now: AFSCME, SEIU, AFLCIO, NEA, Americans United for Change, USAction, Campaign for America’s Future, ACORN, Health Care for America Now, Sierra Club, People for the American Way Foundation, National Women’s Law Center, TrueMajority.org, Young Democrats of America, 21st Century Democrats, Community Action Partnership, Institute for Policy Studies – Cities for Progress, Progressive Future , National Priorities Project , Cities for Progress, Progressive Future,Working Group on Extreme Inequality, YWCA USA , Economic Policy Institute, Women’s Voices. Women’s Vote Action Fund and the League of Conservation Voters. ###
