Been waiting for it to happen. Oregon is looking at a minimum of 14 percent unemployment. The new budget numbers came out today, and they are horrible.
What does the Unigovernor propose?
"Today in an address to the City Club of Portland, Governor Ted Kulongoski announced an emergency jobs program to help put at least 12,000 unemployed Oregonians back to work this summer.
“'President Roosevelt gave hope to millions of unemployed Americans when he created the Civilian Conservation Corps and other jobs programs. We need to take the same kind of immediate action in Oregon,' Governor Kulongoski said.
"If approved by the legislature, jobs under the Governor’s plan would begin July 1 and target unemployed Oregonians seeking a salary range of $8.40 - $10.00 per hour. Currently, there are 80,000 unemployed individuals with active profiles with the Employment Department that have expressed an interest in being hired for a job that pays within this hourly wage range.
"Furthermore, the average unemployment payment right now is $250 per week. Under the Governor’s plan, a full-time job paying $8.40 an hour would be $336 per week.
"The plan, called the Oregon Emergency Jobs Program, requires legislative approval for a one-time redirection of approximately $90 million in future payments to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The fund currently amounts to $1.5 billion and has a dedicated funding source through regular payments by employers through payroll taxes."
Didga get it? How to grow jobs in Oregon? Just hire a buncha guys and givem money?
Complete comments by Governor Kulonzcynski here. (pdf)
Friday, May 15, 2009
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5 comments:
I wonder if Special K is going to be surprised when people currently getting unemployment would rather continue to sit on their butts, play Xbox, and collect unemployment than take a laborious gov't make-work job for minimum wage.
But just think of all gov't could accomplish by hiring 80k individuals at minimum wage.
Just think of the influx of quality individuals that could be added to the payrolls as police, child support caseworkers, and teachers.
*headdesk*
For those unfamiliar in the ways of the urban venacular, "headdesk" is the referential term for when one's head hits one's desk.
.
intentionally.
And, in this case, repeatedly.
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