Economy and Jobs

Economy and Jobs

The economic challenges currently facing America are some of the greatest in our nation’s history. 

Working families have been hit hard by the combined crises in lending, jobs, and the housing market.  We need swift action to get people back to work and keep families in their homes, while finally confronting our long-term challenges so that the American economy can grow and prosper in the years ahead.

Creating Oregon Jobs

While the entire nation is feeling the effects of the current economic crisis, Oregon, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, has been hit especially hard. 

In response to this dire situation, Senator Merkley worked with President Obama and colleagues in Congress to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  By targeting funding to job-intensive projects and providing broad-based tax relief, this legislation is expected to save or create 3.5 million jobs, including an estimated 44,000 jobs in Oregon.  This legislation also begins the process of moving our nation towards a clean energy economy and restoring dilapidated infrastructure.  Investment in jobs to build infrastructure and develop renewable energy is an investment in the future of our economy.

To assist Oregonians in understanding which projects are eligible for funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and how this recovery plan will benefit our state, Senator Merkley has joined with Senator Wyden to put together an Oregon Resource Guide to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The guide includes information on many federal programs and funding opportunities available to individuals, communities, and businesses in Oregon through the economic recovery package. Oregonians can access this guide online here.

Tax Cuts for Working Families

Along with President Obama, Senator Merkley is working to restore fairness to the American tax system.  In recent years, tax cuts have been doled out to the wealthiest Americans while middle class families who really need relief have seen their share of the tax burden increase.

In February of 2009, Senator Merkley worked with his colleagues to ensure that middle-class tax cuts were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Specifically, the Act included the Make Work Pay credit of $400 per person for those making up to $75,000 and $800 per couple for those making up to $150,000, and a new $2500 American Opportunity Tax Credit for higher education, as well as a $250 payment for Social Security recipients.  Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 95 percent of workers and their families will benefit from these tax cuts.

Rural Economic Development

If Oregon’s rural economy is to grow, there must be significant investment in rural infrastructure.  Senator Merkley is working aggressively to bring new economic opportunities in agriculture, sustainable timber harvests, and renewable energy production to rural communities, as well as promoting modern transportation systems to move goods and people and improving access to government services such as good schools and health facilities.

Increasingly, America’s economy relies on digital connections that span the continent and the globe.  Oregon is home to a number of cutting-edge technology companies, and broadband Internet access in rural areas is essential to retaining those jobs and attracting new companies from any industry.  Senator Merkley is working to expand rural infrastructure to help ensure employment opportunities in rural areas.

The greatest driving force behind rural economic growth is a population of skilled and innovative workers.  Senator Merkley is working to make higher education more affordable and help Oregon’s technical and community colleges train the next generation of skilled workers and business leaders.

Fair Pay

Senator Merkley strongly believes that all workers deserve equal pay for equal work. At a time when women who work full time, year-round, still make only 78 cents for every dollar that a man makes, our laws must be strong enough to address clear cases of discrimination.

In one of his first acts as a U.S. Senator, Merkley cosponsored two bills to provide workers with increased protection from discriminatory pay practices. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, which was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Obama, restores fairness to the workplace by allowing victims of discrimination the ability to seek compensation even if they only discover the discrimination later.  Senator Merkley is working with his Senate colleagues to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would close the loopholes that allow employment discrimination to go unchecked while improving the remedies available and prohibiting retaliatory action by employers.

Employee Free Choice Act

Senator Merkley strongly supports passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which will give workers a fair chance and direct path to form a union. Workers who belong to unions earn 30 percent more than non-union workers and are more likely to have employer-provided health care and a defined pension plan. Protecting the right to form unions and giving working men and women a greater voice in the decisions that affect their families will help to restore the strength of the middle class.

The Employee Free Choice Act would empower workers, rather than their employers, to choose how to decide whether to form a union – either by majority sign-up or through a longer election process, as currently provided for in the National Labor Relations Act.  Senator Merkley strongly believes that workers – not employers – should have the right to determine the best course of action to make that choice.