Although Republican members of the House of Representatives did not support President Barack Obama’s $790 billion federal stimulus legislation last week, support from Democrats like local Rep. Albio Sires (D-13th Dist.) and other members of Congress helped pass it.
Sires said the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will create or save 3.5 million jobs, and make investments in health, education, and infrastructure to improve conditions today and in the future.
“This bill will create or save 100,000 jobs in New Jersey, with 7,800 jobs in the 13th district alone.” – Rep. Albio Sires
________
“This bill will create or save 100,000 jobs in New Jersey, with 7,800 jobs in the 13th district alone,” Sires said. “While not a perfect bill, I could not vote against these jobs and the families who will benefit from this bill.”
The bill will make investments in infrastructure, transportation, education, and health care, and is meant to help small businesses and families by lowering their tax burden.
Following a similar vote in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez praised the stimulus package that went to President Obama to sign.
“Helping create new jobs and protect workers who might lose their current jobs is the first step to ensuring economic security, for families and for our country,” Menendez said. “We have worked in cooperation with President Obama to start bringing about economic change to families who are struggling right now. This isn’t the final action we can or will take to lay the groundwork for a new economy, but I believe that this is the action that firmly points us in a new direction.”
Menendez added, “It was important to focus on measures that will benefit New Jersey families not only right now, but also in the future as we create a new, stronger economy. I am proud to have delivered significant tax relief to middle class New Jerseyans, as well as provisions that will create green jobs, lower energy expenses, support the youngest victims of the housing crisis, and help ensure continuation of local services, among others. I am proud to have worked with President Obama to deliver these initiatives that can spur economic change for New Jersey families.”
Bipartisan hopes fizzled
During the two weeks of intense negotiations between Democratic and Republican representatives, Sires had expressed the hope and confidence that the bill would receive bipartisan support, and that his Republican colleagues would accept Obama’s efforts to get members of both major political parties to pass the measure.
Despite changes that increased the percentage of tax cuts in the bill from 30 to about 45 percent, all but three Republicans in the Senate voted against the bill.
The bill covers a wide range of areas to help people affected negatively by the sharp downturn in the economy.
In health care, the measure invests $17 billion nationwide in health information technology to grow jobs in this critical sector. This includes a provision that covers hospital dental clinics under the package’s provisions to upgrade health information technology. It also helps families whose breadwinners lost their jobs and cannot afford their health insurance premiums, by offering a subsidy on those premiums.
Menendez, during the Senate debates, successfully warded off cuts in Medicaid reimbursements to New Jersey and high unemployment states. As a result, New Jersey can expect more than $2.2 billion out of this bill.
Wide-ranging stimulus expected
The measure also invests $39.5 billion in local school districts to prevent layoffs among school staff, for school modernization efforts, and other repairs to existing school buildings.
One estimate from the White House said the measure will have a positive impact on 205 schools in New Jersey and will also increase grants and loans to college-bound students, as well as fund job training programs.
In a provision pushed by Menendez, the package will include about $70 million to help children left homeless by foreclosures so they can remain in schools.
The measure will invest $27.5 billion in highways, $8.4 billion in public transportation, $1.3 billion for air transportation, and $9.3 billion for rail transportation nationwide. Out of this, New Jersey will see $524 million for transit, and $652 million for highway infrastructure investments.
The bill sets aside $2.25 billion for housing development nationwide through the HOME program and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, creating more housing for families and more development for local economies.
The bill also includes significant tax relief proposals, especially for small businesses and middle class families, and blocks a tax hike that would have affected 1.7 million New Jersey residents.
New Jersey will see about $73 million for energy efficient and other green improvements, including solar energy upgrades.
The state Unemployment Insurance fund will receive support to benefit more than 731,000 workers in New Jersey recently laid off, and the measure extends benefits to an additional 148,000.
“With the highest unemployment rate in 15 years, too many families in our state are worrying about their next paycheck, how they will put food on the table and keep a roof over their head,” Menendez said.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.