TODAY\\\’S SENATE LEADERSHIP INACTION

  • While too many American workers face the prospect of job loss during this holiday season, the Senate Democratic leadership sent Senators home for the holidays without acting to help the economy grow and aid displaced workers.
  • While the House of Representatives has passed not one, but two, versions of an economic stimulus and worker relief package, the Senate Democratic leadership has failed to move forward with any plan.
  • While President Bush has worked to bridge party lines and forge a responsible, bipartisan economic stimulus and worker relief package, the Senate Democratic leadership repeatedly fails to act to help America\\\’s economy and America\\\’s workers.
  • While the Senate Democratic leadership scrambles to leave town, the human toll of the economic downturn after September 11 continues to grow.

BY THE NUMBERS

  • Days since the House passed its first stimulus & worker relief bill: 58
  • Number of times House has passed a stimulus & worker relief package: 2
  • Number of times the Senate has passed a stimulus & worker relief package: 0
  • Number of workers who lost their jobs waiting on Senate Democratic leaders to act on stimulus & worker relief: 800,000
    (since October 4, when the President first proposed a stimulus package)
  • Additional jobs that will be lost in 2002 if the Senate Democratic leaders fail to act: 300,000

Tax Relief to Spur Economic Growth

  • Low and moderate income Americans entitled to a rebate under the President\\\’s bipartisan plan: 38 million
  • Taxpayers, primarily middle class, entitled to accelerated rate reduction under the President\\\’s bipartisan plan: 36 million
  • Taxable income of Americans labeled "rich" by Senate Democratic leaders who are entitled to tax relief under the President\\\’s bipartisan plan: As low as $27,950 ($46,700 for couples)
  • Amount provided by the President\\\’s bipartisan plan in tax-exempt liberty bonds to revitalize and rebuild New York City: $15 billion

Assistance for Dislocated Workers

  • Percentage of health care premiums covered by President\\\’s bipartisan health care tax credit: 60%
  • Number of displaced workers helped by the President\\\’s bipartisan health care tax credit: Over 4 million
  • Number of displaced workers helped by Senate Democrat COBRA subsidy: Only 2 million
  • Percentage of displaced workers left out of Senate Democrat COBRA subsidy: 45%
  • Percentage of Senate Democrat COBRA subsidies used to help retirees or workers who leave their jobs voluntarily: 60%
  • Earliest date National Emergency Grants could be provided to help displaced workers under the President\\\’s bipartisan plan: January 2002
  • Earliest date Senate Democrat Medicaid expansion could be implemented: Never (States lack the necessary matching funds)