Kerry Outlines Plan to Give All Families the Opportunity to Get Ahead

Kerry Outlines Plan to Give All Families the Opportunity to Get Ahead

press release:

To: National Desk and Political Reporter


Contact: Allison Dobson of John Kerry (news - web sites) for President, 202-712-3000, Web: http://www.johnkerry.com


PORTLAND, Ore., May 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Visiting Portland's Metropolitan Workforce Training Center today, Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry told Portland-area residents that together we can build a stronger America where economic opportunity is available to all of America's families. Kerry discussed how his economic policies will create greater opportunity and put Americans back to work, while addressing the issues that are squeezing the budgets of middle-class families: skyrocketing gas prices and the spiraling cost of health care.


"Yesterday, gas prices soared to more than $2 a gallon, but this Administration still has not done anything to help" Kerry said. "We also learned that we are losing jobs to countries overseas at a rate up to 40 percent more than previous estimates. But again, the Administration offers no help. They don't seem to understand that higher costs in gas and health care and lost jobs effect your lives every day. Their inaction is costing working Americans their jobs, their savings and the opportunity to get ahead. In November, we'll take action and expand economic opportunity for all Americans."


Oregon families have been hard hit by the failures of the Bush administration. While the President continues to do nothing about skyrocketing gas costs, families have been forced to pay $.94 more per gallon -- an additional $1,006 annually. Making matters worse, as gas prices have gone up for families, so have health care costs and college tuition.


Families' budgets are being squeezed while at the same time they are encountering a weak job market. Nationally, jobs are disappearing overseas at a rate up to 40 percent more than previous estimates, and in Oregon, unemployment is at the highest rate in the nation. Just as with the gasoline crisis, George Bush stubbornly refuses to offer help.


"It's time we had a President who will lead in a way that benefits you," Kerry said. "We know we can do better and think bigger about the challenges we face. We know that a strong economy and a strong middle class are the key to building a stronger America. That is why when we win back the White House, we will offer real relief to working families, so they have the opportunity to save and get ahead."


As President, Kerry said he will lead where George Bush has failed and push real solutions for families squeezed at the gas pump and by other every day costs. His comprehensive plan will move America towards energy independence and provide immediate relief by suspending filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, working more effectively with OPEC (news - web sites) and enacting simpler and cleaner national fuel strategies. In addition to gas costs, Kerry will offer 98 percent of families a tax cut and provide additional help with other rising costs, like health care and college tuition.


To create and keep good jobs here in the United States, Kerry said he will put an end to tax breaks that encourage companies to send jobs overseas. He will also invest in education, training and infrastructure to help make America more competitive and enforce our trade agreements so that America's workers and businesses are competing on a level playing field.


"We can strengthen our economy and help working families get ahead," Kerry said. "This is what we can do to bring more opportunity to the American people. This is the America I want to lead. This is the America I know we can have, and this is the America I ask you to join me in building."


FACT SHEET:


OREGON FAMILIES ARE SQUEEZED AS GAS PRICES RISE TO RECORD LEVELS AND OUTSOURCING INCREASES


A New Report Shows Outsourcing is Up 40 Percent from Previous Estimates


--- Outsourcing up 40 from previous estimates. Forrester Research now estimates that 830,000 jobs will be outsourced overseas by the end of 2005 -- up from their previous estimate of 600,000 jobs outsourced. Outsourcing has greatly increased in recent years:


-- Computers: 181,000 jobs by 2005, up from 102,000 in 2003.


-- Office jobs: 410,000 by 2005, compared to 146,000 in 2005.





-- Life sciences: 4,000 jobs in 2005, up from 300 in 2003.

Oregon Families are Paying More and More

-- Gasoline spending up $1,000. Gasoline has hit $2.25 a gallon in Oregon. That is a $0.94 increase under President Bush (news - web sites). As a result of President Bush's failed energy policies, the typical family in Oregon is paying an additional $1,006 annually for gasoline.

-- Healthcare premiums up $2,728. Family health care premiums rose by $2,728 in Oregon between 2000 and 2003. Families are paying 49 percent more annually for health care, the largest three-year increase since the 1970s.

-- College tuition has gone up 28 percent in Oregon, pricing 1,929 students out of four-year public universities. Oregon has raised tuition from $3,634 in 2000-01 to $4,640 in 2003-04, in part to make up for budget shortfalls resulting from George Bush's failed economic policies. This has prices 1,929 students out of college.

Oregon Has the Highest Unemployment in the Nation and New Jobs Pay Less Than Old Jobs

-- Oregon has lost 33,700 private-sector jobs under President Bush. Between March 2001 and March 2004 Oregon lost 33,700 private sector jobs. President Bush is on-track to be the first job-loss President since Herbert Hoover in the Great Depression.

-- Oregon has the highest unemployment rate in the Nation. Oregon has an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent -- the highest of any state.

-- Jobs in growing industries pay $11,027 less than jobs in contracting industries. A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that Oregon is losing it's good jobs -- jobs in expanding industries pay $29,964 while jobs in contracting industries pay $40,991.

-- Family incomes are down $1,462. Family incomes nationwide have fallen $1,462, adjusted for inflation, under President Bush.

John Kerry's Plan to Expand Opportunity for Oregon

-- Stop rewarding companies for outsourcing. John Kerry will end tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas and use the savings to cut the corporate tax rate by 5 percent, giving a tax cut to 99 percent of companies.

-- Make America more competitive. John Kerry will invest in education, training, high-tech infrastructure, and relieve the burden on health costs. All of this will make America more competitive by creating more high-wage jobs here, not by shifting jobs overseas.

-- Enforce our trade agreements. John Kerry will enforce our trade agreements, fighting for American exports.

-- John Kerry's agenda to promote universal access to college- including $50 billion of tax cuts for college. John Kerry is pushing for a College Opportunity Tax Cut -- substantial tax relief to help families pay for college.

-- John Kerry's agenda to promote more affordable health insurance for all Americans -- saving up to $1,000 per family in health premiums. John Kerry's premium relief and $177 billion in tax cuts will reduce health insurance premiums by up to $1,000 and improve health outcomes.

-- John Kerry's agenda to promote energy independence. John Kerry supports a comprehensive agenda to advance the use of renewable fuels, including hydrogen, and promote more fuel efficient cars and houses - reducing the pressure over the long run. To immediately relieve the pressure on gas prices he would temporarily suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, would work more effectively to ensure that OPEC increases production, and would enact a simpler and cleaner national fuels strategy.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=669&ncid=669&e=12&u=/usnw/20040518/pl_usnw/kerry_outlines_plan_to_give_all_families_the_opportunity_to_get_ahead119_xml

...it is something Kerry just now noticed, perhaps he should talk about specific things he has done about these issues over the years.



QUOTE:
To create and keep good jobs here in the United States, Kerry said he will put an end to tax breaks that encourage companies to send jobs overseas. He will also invest in education, training and infrastructure to help make America more competitive and enforce our trade agreements so that America's workers and businesses are competing on a level playing field.
QUOTE:

*Opportunity*

Thanks for the post. :)