A safety net for government jobs? Obama's stimulus plan to prevent layoffs of city, state workers

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | January 6, 2009 | Gail Russell Chaddock

[2ndDivisionVet]

In Washington this week, President-elect Obama called on Congress to create 3 million jobs over the next two years – “more than 80 percent of them in the private sector.”

Republicans on Capitol Hill did a little quick math: That means 20 percent, or some 600,000 new jobs, will be in the public sector. That would boost the ranks of federal employees by a third, they said, none too pleased about the prospect of a “big government” revival.

“The federal government is bloated, inefficient, and spends too much of your hard-earned money,” said Rep. Steve King (R) of Iowa, in a statement. Some 600,000 new government jobs “will only add to the waste, fraud, and abuse coming out of Washington, D.C., and fail to provide a true economic stimulus.”

But that calculus leaves out a key phrase that Obama transition officials insist is part of the president-elect’s plan: to create “or save” 3 million jobs. “The vast majority of government jobs will be state and local jobs being saved,” said one official, speaking on background.

The debate over whether public- or private-sector jobs deserve a bigger backstop in a troubled economy is reviving one of the most enduring fault lines in American politics.

When President Franklin Roosevelt launched his Works Progress Administration in 1935, conservative critics called it a boondoggle. Many liberals, then and now, saw the program as transforming and as a big boost for the nation. By its demise in 1943, the WPA had employed some 8.5 million people and created roads, schools, bridges, and works of art across America.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Good old AFSCME, calling in it's note right at the start.

[screaminsunshine]

Any Republicans who will vote for this should be recalled.

[avacado]

Layoff proof jobs!!! That will surely increase motivation — to sit on one’s butt!

[Emmett McCarthy]

This may very well result in open class warfare between private sector folks who have to produce in order to get paid and the secure employees of the feudal lords.

[VRWC For Truth]

I can see it now. Road contractors doing the job they always do and get paid the same. 100 gov’t workers standing around and pushing paper making sure they do the job right. Increased costs with no benefit. What a JOKE.

[freekitty]

Like that’s going to work. If the rest of the country; the people that actually work for a living and pay taxes; are being laid off; why and what possible benefit would there be to have to have fanny sitters in government for?

[colormeread]

Why worry. These guys will make us all safe. And if we don’t like it they will hack us to pieces with machetes just like in the old country.

[Chode]

Atlas Puked...

[randita]

I sure hope the Republicans are putting together a stimulus package to counter Obama’s with real tax cuts as the centerpiece, not just welfare.

[WOSG]

"In Washington this week, President-elect Obama called on Congress to create 3 million jobs over the next two years – “more than 80 percent of them in the private sector.”"

GOVT IS NOT CAPABLE OF CREATIGN PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS!!!!

only by getting out of the way can Govt let the private natural economy grow.

[blueplum]

Increased costs with no benefit

increased costs for us, with increased benefits for all those gubment workers, like fat retirements and medical perks

[Red Boots]

The vast majority of government jobs will be state and local jobs being saved,” said one official, speaking on background

And here you thought BO was for poor people !

The average public sector employee makes 60% more than the average private sector employee, so this is really the rich being saved at the expense of the poor.

.