Growing Economy

Overview

Nov 10 2008

We live in a global economy where corporations have little loyalty to maintaining decent paying jobs in the United States. Failed policies of corporate welfare and tax subsidies to the already wealthy do little but accelerate job flight and growing economic inequality.

Promoting a growing economy requires a combination of key policies, including:

From the Dispatch

Reducing Military Spending to Spur Economic Growth at Home

Mar 11 2010

The Senate struggled to approve a $15 billion jobs bill and has yet to enact additional fiscal relief for the states, but lawmakers continue to approve trillions of dollars for wars and defense appropriations. In fact, ignoring the almost $1 trillion spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, military spending has grown 41 percent since 1998. If progressive leaders intend to reduce long-term deficits and ensure a robust economic recovery, cutting inefficient and costly areas of the defense budget should be a top priority.

Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future

Mar 08 2010

Deploying broadband and related communication technologies, including smart meters in the home and smart grids to upgrade our power grid, have the potential of revolutionizing energy management and economic development, according to a new report by the Progressive States Network released in association with our partners, Communications Workers of America, the Sierra Club and the Blue Green Alliance. Last Thursday, leaders from those organizations convened at a panel on Capitol Hill, hosted by U.S. Representative Edward Markey, Chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, and joined by Nick Sinai, Director of Energy and Environment for the FCC's Broadband Strategy Plan, to discuss the findings of the report entitled Networking the Green Economy

Banks Take Advantage of States in Fiscal Crisis

Mar 04 2010

The same large banks whose unregulated actions were primary contributors to the economic downturn have also been manipulating state and local governments to profit from budget deficits for years. Essentially, banks are alluring states with the promise of a means to cut borrowing costs and increase returns through the use of an interest rate swap. The mechanism is a derivative that allows cash-strapped municipalities and states to exchange interest payments on a variable bond deal for an allocation of funds from a bank. So, the bank would establish a fixed rate on the bond and swap for the variable "interest rate of the bond that was set by larger macroeconomic forces, such as the Federal Reserve." Unfortunately, the results have been disastrous.

Boards of Education Rewriting History and Science

Feb 25 2010

In January, members of the predominantly conservative Texas Board of Education discussed revising the state's social studies curriculum to include highly partisan perspectives on civil rights, the role of government, and American history in general. Some of the more divisive suggestions range from banning mention of activist and union organizer Cesar Chavezciting Ronald Reagan’s "leadership in restoring national confidence' following Jimmy Carter’s presidency." to

The FCC Extends E-Rate Broadband Access Program to the General Public

Feb 25 2010

States and local governments may now use federal E-rate funds to provide the general public access to schools’ and public libraries’ Internet facilities, according to a recent Federal Communications Commission order. Schools receiving funding under the E-rate program may extend their services to the general public during non-operating hours, that is, after school, weekends, holidays, and summer vacation.

No Crisis in Public Retirement Systems: Debunking the Hype and the Attacks on Employee Benefits

Feb 22 2010

This Dispatch will emphasize that there is no crisis in most state retirement systems, even according to the numbers of the researchers demanding state leaders take unneeded action to cut the incomes of retirees. And despite the hype from a few carefully selected anecdotes of retirees gaming pension systems, the reality is that the overwhelming number of public employees receive pretty bare-bones benefits, in some cases not enough even to keep them out of poverty.

Solar Energy Continues to Make Its Case - Now as a Job Creator

Feb 18 2010

With more people worried about job security and the economy, state policy leaders and several corporations are making the case for renewable energy legislation as a job creator.

Solar energy creates and retains jobs, including those in the manufacturing industry. Texas business leaders noted in a recent report, Lone Star Power: How Texas Businesses Can Supply the World with Solar Energy, one of the great advantages of solar plants is the large number of components that are involved in installing solar power systems.

State Policymakers Need to Respond to Growing Clout of Latino Voters Nationwide

Feb 18 2010

A recent report from the advocacy group America’s Voice highlighted the growing power of Latino voters in the upcoming 2010 elections. Latino voters played a critical role in 2008 to propel President Obama to victory in several key swing states that previously trended Republican, including Virginia. Latino voter registration and turnout rates have exploded over the past few years: roughly 10 million voted in the 2008 Presidential election alone, a 2.5 million increase from 2004 and 4 million person increase since 2000. Latino voter registration grew by over 54% between 2000 and 2008, and turnout grew 64% over the same time period.

Job Creation and State Fiscal Relief Resolutions Moving in the States

Feb 11 2010

In the State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama stated, "...jobs must be our number-one focus in 2010, and that's why I'm calling for a new jobs bill." With the fiscal crisis forcing states to layoff hundreds of thousands of teachers, nurses and police officers, the need for more federal job creation and state fiscal relief support is clear. And there is substantial momentum building around this issue in the states.

Broadband and Recovery - the ARRA and State Policies in 2010

Feb 09 2010

This Dispatch highlights the trends in the initial grants when it comes to mapping, deployment and adoption broadband, outline broadband policies that states have been pursuing (using federal and state funding), and why these broadband investments are so critical to the long-term economy of our states.

Core Analysis

Issue Updates

Broadband and Technology Update: The Stimulus, A New Mexico Literacy Bill, and Much More
06/15/09

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Growing Economy

Overview

From the Dispatch

Reducing Military Spending to Spur Economic Growth at Home

Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future

Banks Take Advantage of States in Fiscal Crisis

Boards of Education Rewriting History and Science

The FCC Extends E-Rate Broadband Access Program to the General Public

No Crisis in Public Retirement Systems: Debunking the Hype and the Attacks on Employee Benefits

Solar Energy Continues to Make Its Case - Now as a Job Creator

State Policymakers Need to Respond to Growing Clout of Latino Voters Nationwide

Job Creation and State Fiscal Relief Resolutions Moving in the States

Broadband and Recovery - the ARRA and State Policies in 2010

Core Analysis

Issue Updates

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