The Emergency Room

by Leigh Graham · 2009-01-05 15:09:00 UTC
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The New York Times reports that intakes at Broward County, FL one-stop career centers are up 60% from one year ago, with people queuing up for one-third fewer jobs. 40% more families are now on public assistance.

Welcome to the “emergency rooms” of The Bush Economy, where, in the final months of 2008, desperate neighbors meet overwhelmed service providers, and anxieties about putting food on the table and gifts under the Christmas tree drowned out optimism over Obama’s recent victory.

One-stops are the decade-old delivery system for numerous federal employment and public assistance programs for unemployed and low-income individuals. Since 2000, Bush has slashed one-stop funding by 14%, leaving mainly black and immigrant Americans with fewer services in a time of rapidly rising need.

Attorney-blogger TChris proposes that the Obama Administration repair this frayed social safety net as part of its planned infrastructure investment.  I agree.   I’d like to see Obama restore funding to one-stops, further extend unemployment benefits, increase funding and eligibility for food stamps and heating assistance, expand S-CHIP coverage for low-income kids, and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit so low-wage workers have more money in their pockets this spring. And I haven’t even gotten to the foreclosure and state budget crises in this New Year wish list!

The percentage of individuals living in poverty could grow by 25% during the first Obama Administration.  (Stimulus be damned!)  Yet, no doubt President “the E/R = universal healthcare” Bush is giving thanks for his smoothly functioning economy this week. I’m grateful he’s finally on his way out, though our work remains – 2009's going to be a busy year!

Edited from original post published at The Redstar Perspective, November 2008

Leigh Graham
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