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Iowa Citizen Action Network: Economic Stimulus Checks Insufficient
7/14/2008

For Immediate Release
Date: July 14, 2008
Contact: Sue Dinsdale, Iowa Citizen Action Network
515-480-3240

Economic Stimulus Checks Insufficient

As North Iowans Continue to Work on Flood Recovery They Call on Congressional Representatives to Work for Real Economic Recovery for Iowa Families

[Mason City, IA] – As Iowan’s are spending their economic stimulus checks on necessities and flood recovery, Iowa Citizen Action Network, Working Families Win, labor leaders, community groups and citizens joined together on Monday, July 14th at the Mason City Library to urge representatives from Iowa’s local congressional delegation to ensure the speedy enactment of an economic recovery and growth package. The listening post drew concerned citizens, organized labor, advocacy groups and social service agencies concerned about the real impact of the recession in Iowa and the urgent need for Federal action that goes beyond mere stimulus checks.

“Iowan’s are not fools,” said Sue Dinsdale, Organizer for Iowa Citizen Action Network. “We realize that our families and our economy need more than a rebate check to ensure lasting relief, we need sensible solutions and a plan to get our economy back on track. The plan should start with ending the reckless war in Iraq and the tax breaks for the rich and instead investing in health care, education, real security, clean energy.”

Senators Harkin and Grassley and Representative Latham were invited to attend the Listening Post, and staff members from Representative Latham’s office attended.

They heard statements from co-sponsoring organizations: Iowa Citizen Action Network, and Working Families Win as well as from community organizations, state legislators and citizens.

John Stone, Mason City resident, commented, “Most of us have received our economic stimulus rebate checks, and though this support is welcomed during hard times, it is insufficient to turn around the economy and bring about economic growth. We certainly appreciate our government’s response to the recent flooding. But for long-term economic stability we need real stimulus that includes stopping further cuts in Medicaid, SCHIP, and other critical services. More than a third of Americans lack steady health insurance, and millions are unable to afford nutritious food. Energy costs are soaring. Foreclosures are at record levels – and rising. More and more states are facing severe budget gaps that make it harder for them to respond. We are in an economic recession and we need Congress to act.”

“Family farmers may be enjoying record-high grain prices this year, but the costs of inputs are soaring, and will eat up much if not most of that profit over time,” said Iowa Farmers Union president Chris Petersen of Clear Lake. “Rural Americans need real economic remedies—we are underinsured if we are insured at all, we are holding down two or even three jobs including farming to make ends meet, and our rural towns are dying because of a lack of real economic development in the countryside. It’s time for Congress to enact an effective economic stimulus package—not a tax-rebate gimmick.”

Chris Schwartz, lead organizer for Working Families Win, a co-sponsor of the listening post, commented, "Iowa’s working families need systemic economic changes not misguided short fixes. Our free trade policies send jobs over seas, lower wages here at home and exploit workers abroad, its time for Fair Trade and the passage of the T.R.A.D.E Act. We also must expand access to labor unions, the ones who built the middle class, the decline in Union membership and the erasing of the middle class go hand in hand.”

“Congress needs to do the right thing to effectively rebuild our economy,” said Alan Anderson of Mason City, president of the United Steelworkers Local 9310 and president of the North Iowa 9 Labor Council. “The economy lost 296,000 private sector jobs in the first quarter; unemployment claims surged while other workers are still in jobs, but with reduced hours.”

Anderson continued, “Recent reports are showing that the real winners in the rebate check delivery are the big box stores. Rising gas prices, six straight months of US job cuts and declining home values are stimulating the bottom line of national discount chains, while individual workers struggle with day-to-day expenses. Making investments in infrastructure projects that create jobs will put people to work and lead to long-term economic growth. That is real economic stimulus and that is the right thing to do.”

Sue Dinsdale of the Iowa Citizen Action Network, speaking on behalf of the broad range of attendees, concluded the listening post with a call for expanded unemployment insurance benefits; a temporary increase in Food Stamps benefits; aid to states and localities to stop job loss and further cuts in Medicaid, SCHIP, and other critical services; and investments in our country’s infrastructure to create jobs and promote economic growth.

“In other words,” said Dinsdale, “we need our Congressional delegation to work for REAL Economic Stimulus for a REAL Economic Recovery.”


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