August 10, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) today voted to save the jobs of 16,500 California teachers and prevent the layoffs of tens of thousands of police officers, firefighters, and nurses. The House reconvened this week to take up the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which will provide emergency aid to help California and other states keep teachers in our classrooms and first responders on duty. The bill is completely paid for and reduces the deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years – in part by closing a loophole that actually encourages corporations to ship American jobs overseas.
“California’s education system has been hard-hit by the state’s financial crisis,” said Rep. Sanchez. “With a projected budget deficit of $20 billion, school districts across the state are ready to cut services, shorten the school year, and increase class sizes just to stay afloat. In an effort to save money, many districts are also considering massive teacher layoffs. In OrangeCounty alone, administrators are planning to eliminate nearly 1,400 education jobs to help address a$365 million budget shortfall.”
“Urgent action is needed to keep teachers in the classroom,” Rep. Sanchez continued. “I am proud to support this federal jobs bill, which will provide up to $26 billion to save the jobs of teachers and other public workers. This funding is urgently needed to prevent layoffs and rehire teachers who have already been laid off.”
The legislation provides $10 billion in funding to save more than 160,000 teacher jobs across the country. It also provides $16.1 billion in health assistance to states that, by reducing shortfalls and stimulating the economy, will save and create 158,000 jobs, including preventing the layoffs of police officers and firefighters, as well as creating private-sector jobs throughout our economy.
The $26 billion cost of the legislation will not add to the federal deficit because it is paid for by a combination of rolling back future increases in Food Stamp benefits and closing tax loopholes used by multi-national corporations to avoid taxes on income earned in the U.S.
