Unemployment Drops, Budget Cuts, Assisting Manufacturers, Financial Services and Tax Assistance -- March 7, 2011
Thank you for reading another edition of my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
· Unemployment Rate Drops in February
· Irresponsible Budget Cuts
· Assisting Indiana Manufacturers
· Financial Services
· Tax Assistance is Available
Unemployment Rate Drops in February
The U.S. Department of Labor released a report last week that shows our economy added 192,000 jobs in February. This is encouraging news as the unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent - the lowest rate since April 2009. But while it is an important step forward, our economy still has a long way to go. That's why I am imploring Republicans in the House to stop harmful cuts and ignoring legislation that will put Hoosiers back to work. We can and must get our budget under control without reversing the economic gains we have made.
For more information visit my website here.
Irresponsible Budget Cuts
Last week, Republicans kicked the can down the road by pushing through a spending measure to fund the federal government for another two weeks. While I am actively working across the aisle to make the compromises needed to avoid a government shutdown, this spending measure irresponsibly makes cuts that are simply unacceptable. Their unwillingness to make investments in our economy, create jobs and find common ground will only hurt our recovery. I call upon leadership in the House to end this climate of uncertainty that is hampering our economic recovery and approve a spending bill for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Assisting Indiana Manufacturers
The Obama administration will be partnering with private sector companies, such as Deere & Co., General Electric Co., Lockheed Martin Corp. and The Proctor & Gamble Co., to develop software that will enable Midwest manufacturers to accelerate product development cycles. The software is aimed at helping small and medium-size manufacturers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio conduct modeling and simulation of future products and materials. I applaud the President and the companies involved for focusing on innovation and competitiveness, the essential building blocks of long-term economic prosperity.
Financial Services
Republicans on the House the Financial Services Committee have begun their attempt to eliminate programs that would prevent hundreds of thousands of additional foreclosures and steeper declines in home prices. Last Thursday, Republicans advanced legislation that would dissolve two of the Obama administration's programs focused on preventing foreclosures. The first program would grant emergency loans to homeowners who are unemployed and facing foreclosure. The second, run by the Federal Housing Administration, provides assistance to homeowners owing more than their homes are worth. These programs help keep Americans in their homes.
For more information, please click here.
Tax Assistance is Available
Just a reminder: April 18, 2011 is the due date for filing your federal income taxes. For those with questions or those who need tax preparation assistance, I urge you to click here.
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. For more information, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov, my Congressional Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanAndreCarson and follow me on Twitter @RepAndreCarson. I value your views and your input which help me to better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District in Congress.