DES MOINES Charlie Wishman, President of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, condemned Republican Governor of Iowa Kim Reynolds for turing away millions of dollars in federal unemployment money for Iowans out of work:
It is shameful that our Governor can hurt people with such ease. Ending Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a terrible decision by this Governor and shows a misunderstanding of what’s actually going on in Iowa’s economy in the short and long term. The unemployment program has been in place nationwide since March of 2020. Congress, in a bi-partisan vote, wisely expanded our social safety net to cover the self-employed, gig workers, freelancers and others who didn’t previously qualify for jobless benefits in addition to the thousands of Iowans who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
What we’re really dealing with is a long-term problem in Iowa. Our workforce shortage problems need to be addressed, but cutting unemployment isn’t the answer. While our state government in Iowa has done everything possible to ensure Iowa is a low-wage state, that hasn’t attracted workers to want to come here. In fact, this isn’t a problem that’s going away any time soon. As our baby-boom generation ages and is retiring, replacing them in the workforce means that Iowa will have to attract workers from other places to fill those gaps. Demographically, there just aren’t enough people to take care of this aging generation in their senior years, let alone fill the gaps in the workforce they leave behind.
Cutting benefit programs in unemployment is punitive and doesn’t solve our problems in the long term. Iowa needs to change its course economically, take steps to raise wages and benefits, make Iowa a good place to raise a family, and actually invest in our education instead of defunding it. Steps like these seem obvious, but they haven’t occurred to our Governor yet. Finding quick solutions that play well to a Fox News crowd is one thing, actually addressing our economic concerns in a reality based way is another, and we urge the Governor to do the latter.
###
Charlie Wishman
President, Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO
maybe get some answers
The teachers unions are the most corrupt of all
They don’t care about teaching our young the truth. They want to teach their own ideas of America. All they are is a branch of the socialist Democrats.
What else would you expect from the communist AFL-CIO Union. Decertify all unions. The world will be a better place.
And you all would be making $5.00 an hour while corporate gets richer.
That what he is making picking up pop cans. He considers himself a business owner right along side the rest of the peons who work peanuts because we shouldn’t tax rich people.
At least he is not living off the gov’t
Wanna bet? Making little or no money equals no insurance which leaves the taxpayers with the bill. At that wage, housing is non-existent except for government-subsidized and that is difficult to gain admittance. At that wage, owning a car is not advised because insurance and license costs are going up quickly. Gas is expensive. So, let’s find some other way to work. Can’t buy enough food at that price so ask for food stamps. So on and so on. Being poor isn’t easy. I imagine the post person was being humorous but being poor isn’t funny either. No insurance, no home, no car, no food. It will take a long, long time for this person to make it up to even if he does. Most will die owing a lot of people a lot of money.
The point is he is trying, more than some do
how can a two time drunk driver never before elected to office be qualified to lead an entire state
AND
Dianne Feinstein = 60 years
Chuck Schumer = 45 years
Maxine Waters = 47 years
Patrick Leahy = 54 years
Nancy Pelosi = 33 years
I thought you liked Pence. You shouldn’t talk about him that way.
Talkin about your queen Kamme
DDW’s (dont want to work) will have to get a job now
The jobs are there. Unemployment is like any addiction. The more you receive it, the more you need it. It’s time to make people stand on their own two feet.
Nitwit! The jobs AREN’T there unless it’s for peanuts like I make while working like a slave just to not be fired!
So you would rather live off everyone else, rather than better yourself and have some pride and dignity
Uh, hey dumb person, read what I wrote, I already work and for peanuts!
hey dumber person, maybe you need a better job
You should have thought about your future instead of quitting school, drinking all night and sleeping until noon! LOSER.
I’m a grandma with arthritis, you fool. Maybe you should judge others by what YOU yourself do.
Wal Marts hiring!
Just because you are a grandma doesn’t mean you have a education or a brain.
a grandma with that attitude, breeds more with the same attitude.