House Progressive Caucas pushes jobs campaign

[RyanPsych]

With unemployment again rising to over 9 percent, the Congressional Progressive Caucus is launching a summer tour in cities across the country to promote federal action to address the jobs crisis. The "Speak out for Good Jobs Now" initiative will feature public hearings where workers will have an opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas about the economy. The tour will be held in 12 cities. The first stop on the tour is Minneapolis and coincides with the Netroots conference.

Congressman John Conyers, D-Mich., at a press conference called for more militant action to demand employment. "Let's get mad," he said. "Let's tell the man that we love in the White House to get off of his butt and start supporting some legislation for jobs. ... He's the best speaker in the world, and now we want some action."

Rep. Conyers in March reintroduced HR 870, the "Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment & Training Act," a deficit-neutral bill aimed at providing employment to the jobless. The White House's approach to job creation has focused on small business and corporate efforts. Congressional action has been stymied by the GOP majority in the House.

Republicans instead have focused public attention on the deficit and the debt-ceiling. "The media and the right wing and, of course, some Democrats have been talking about intangibles like the debt ceiling or the job picture," said Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., co-chair of the caucus. We wanted to do a tour that really talks about what matters to people."

keep reading at: http://www.peoplesworld.org/congressional-progressive-caucus-launches-campaign-to-push-for-jobs/