Rep. Castle Holds Third Job Fair in Delaware Following Consecutive “No” Votes for Job Creation
April 12, 2010
Contact: Dave Hoffman
dave@chriscoons.com
302-322-1140
NEW CASTLE – Nine-term Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.) today is holding his third Delaware Works! job creation fair following a steady string of votes cast in the House of Representatives against job creation legislation. The fair is advertised by Congressman Castle as a way to “help Delawareans understand what job, career building, workforce training, and networking opportunities are available throughout the State in this challenging economy.”
“Congressman Castle voted against job creation many times before deciding to hold another jobs fair,” said Coons Communications Director Dave Hoffman. “This is another example of the Congressman trying to have it both ways. While I commend the Congressman for setting aside his anti-job voting record for a moment in order to take time helping out-of-work Delawareans identify job opportunities, people in this state are smart enough to realize they can do better than electing a U.S. senator who says one thing in Delaware and casts votes against their interests in Washington.”
In addition, an extension of unemployment insurance benefits was blocked before the Senate adjourned for recess two weeks ago. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Ok.) placed a “hold” on the bill, blocking votes from occurring before the previous extension expired at midnight on April 5 – halting benefits to more than 4,000 Delawareans.
“Last Monday, thousands of Delawareans had their unemployment benefits cut off because of a procedural gimmick that prevented an up-or-down vote on extending benefits. Congressional Republicans have consistently used arcane procedures to block any type of progress. They should stop playing politics with the lives of Delawareans and start voting with the Administration to help business hire workers in a tough economy.”
CASTLE RHETORIC: HELPING DELAWAREANS UNDERSTAND WHAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE
REALITY: VOTED AGAINST JOB CREATION LEGISLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
CASTLE OPPOSED JOBS PACKAGE AND EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Castle Opposed $154 Billion Jobs Package, Unemployment Benefits Extension. In December 2009, Castle voted against a $154 billion jobs bill that used remaining funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to create jobs and fund programs targeted at unemployed workers. [HR 2847, House Vote #991, 12/16/09] The bill included:
· $75 Billion For Job Creation. The bill contained “$75 billion for creating and preserving jobs, with $48.3 billion set aside for infrastructure projects. That amount includes $35 billion for highways and transit, and $2 billion each for clean-water infrastructure and affordable housing improvements. [CQ Today, 12/16/09]
· $26.7 Billion to Prevent Layoffs. The bill “would set aside $26.7 billion to prevent the layoffs of public sector employees. The figure includes $23 billion for an Education Jobs Fund for states to fund jobs that provide “educational services” or renovate public school facilities. Additionally, $1.18 billion would support 5,500 law enforcement positions, while $500 million would be steered to retention of firefighters.” [CQ Today, 12/16/09]
· $79 Billion to Extend Unemployment Benefits and Health Insurance Aid. The bill contained “An additional $79 billion in emergency funds would help fund the extension of unemployment benefits and health insurance aid for the jobless, which were included in the February stimulus law. The six-month extension of unemployment benefits would cost $41 billion, while $12.4 billion would extend from nine to 15 months the COBRA health subsidy for individuals who have lost their jobs.” [CQ Today, 12/16/09]
· Expansion of Child Tax Credit for Low-Income Families. Under the bill, “the child tax credit would be expanded, at a cost of $2.3 billion, so that it would be available to ‘all low-income working families with children in 2010,’ according to the Appropriations Committee.” [CQ Today, 12/16/09]
· $23.5 Billion Aid for States to Fund Medicaid Expenses. “The bill would extend for six months a stimulus provision that requires the federal government to assume more of the cost of the Medicaid program so that struggling state governments can apply resources elsewhere. This provision would cost $23.5 billion.” [CQ Today, 12/16/09]
· $354 Million for Small Business Loans. The bill also included $354 million for Small Business Administration loan programs. [CQ Today, 12/16/09]
CASTLE OPPOSED ANOTHER JOBS CREATION BILL AFTER SAYING HE WOULD VOTE FOR IT
Castle Voted Against Senate Jobs Bill With Payroll Tax Relief, Small Business Deductions. In 2010, Castle voted against a $17.6 billion jobs creation package that included payroll tax relief and expense reductions for small businesses and cost offsets for the new benefits. According to CQ, “The centerpiece of the $17.6 billion package is payroll tax relief for businesses that hire new workers, which would cost $13 billion over 10 years. The bill also includes extensions of the Highway Trust Fund, the Build America Bonds program and expense deductions for small businesses.” The House also added language to the bill that would fully offset the cost of the jobs package. The bill passed the House, 217-201. [HR 2847, House Vote #90, 3/4/10; CQ Today, 3/4/10]
· ONE WEEK EARLIER…Castle: I Would Have Voted to Advance $15 Billion Senate Jobs Package. As reported by WDEL News, “Congressman Castle, who’s running for the Senate, says if he were a Senator now, he’d have joined fellow Republicans in voting to end debate on a 15 billion-dollar jobs bill.” [WDEL News, 2/24/10]
· Castle Supported Jobs Package, More Focused on Private-Sector Jobs Than Stimulus Package or Previous House Jobs Package. In February 2010, Castle said he would have supported the $15 billion jobs package passed by the Senate if he had been a U.S. Senator. As reported by WDEL News, “Castle says he likes the bill that will be voted on later this week because it’s more focused on creating private-sector jobs than a job creation measure that passed the House months ago or last year’s economic stimulus package.” [WDEL News, 2/24/10]
CASTLE OPPOSED ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE THAT WOULD CREATE JOBS IN DELAWARE
Castle Opposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In 2009, Castle opposed the conference report of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill was a $787 billion spending package to provide aid to states and cities, funding for transportation and infrastructure projects and expansion of the Medicaid program to cover more unemployed workers. It included $301.1 billion in personal and business tax breaks. [CQ Bill Analysis HR1; Vote 70, 3/31/09]
Ummmm…. that blows. My wife has been without work for almost a year. I was really praying that they would do something good. No luck today.