William Rice: Help feds rehire public workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130415/NEWS0802/704159997/1677#william-rice-help-feds-rehire-public-workers

By William Rice

The writer, of Washington, D.C., is a tax fairness specialist for Americans for Democratic Action.

America’s economy is poised to roar ahead if only Washington would stop holding it back.

Ever since the Great Recession officially ended, the private sector has been adding jobs. What’s kept the economy in low gear and the unemployment rate stubbornly high has been the shrinking of government work forces: cops, teachers and other valuable public employees let go in the face of inadequate tax revenue.

Most of these layoffs occurred at the state and local levels, but a vigorous federal response could have prevented them.

That’s what the federal government should do when local governments — hemmed in by rigid budget rules and limited borrowing authority — are starved for resources during an economic downturn. When their tax revenue falls as demand for their services grows. When such a crisis occurs, only Washington can pick up the slack.

FULL story at link.