| From Sauk Valley Newspapers
Sunday March 10, 2002
By Greg Smith, Staff Writer
DIXON -- The economic stimulus package that President George
Bush signed on Saturday came about five months too late, according
to Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill.
"The headlines where the recession is over and a stimulus
package was signed appear on the same page," said Durbin,
who stopped in Dixon on Saturday as part of his re-election
campaign. "I'm glad that the president did include a
13-week extension of unemployment benefits. By extending unemployment
benefits, we are helping those who can do the most to help
stimulate the economy -- the hundreds of thousands of men
and women who have lost their jobs in the past year."
Durbin was elected to office on Nov. 4, 1996 to fill the vacancy
left by Paul Simon, his mentor. Durbin serves on the powerful
U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.
"I am deeply disappointed that this bill does not address
the fact that states like Illinois will have to make up for
a significant amount of lost revenue," Durbin said. "We
couldn't wait any longer to help American workers get on the
highway to economic recovery, but I am concerned about those
we have left sitting on the shoulder."
Durbin plans to make an amendment on the Senate floor as early
as next week to increase federal Medicaid matching payments
to states to help those struggling to balance their budgets.
The increase would also partially offset the effects of other
provisions in the stimulus package that have the effect of
reducing state revenues. "One of the provisions that
did not make it into the stimulus package is to provide more
money to pay for the health care of those who are unemployed,"
said Durbin. "There also needs to be more money for Medicaid
in states, such as Illinois, that need help funding the program."
According to Durbin, Illinois needs $350 million to help pay
for the health care for the unemployed and $500 million to
help support Medicaid.
Durbin supports the 30 percent tariff placed on steel imports
for four years by the president. "President Bush made
an important decision to pursue damages for the American businesses
and jobs lost through illegally priced foreign steel flooding
our shores," Durbin said. "But his response falls
short. What is at stake is more than jobs; what is at stake
is our national security and a key part of our industrial
economy."
The steel unions and industry called for tariffs of a minimum
of 40 percent, according to Durbin. "I'm not sure if
the tariff or the amount of time they will be in place will
be enough to help the industry restructure itself," said
Durbin. "I'm all for free trade, but I do feel we should
be able to play on an even field."
According to Durbin, 31 U.S. steel manufacturers have been
forced into bankruptcy. Five of these companies are in Illinois
and contributed tens of thousands of jobs to the state's economy.
Durbin has co-sponsored a bill that would require an increased
use of ethanol in gas. "Ethanol comes from a renewable
source and it is good for the farm economy," said Durbin.
"The plants that would need to be built to make the ethanol
will create jobs in rural areas," Durbin favors the use
of alternative fuels. He is against drilling for oil in Alaska.
"We do not need to drill in Alaska to meet our energy
needs," said Durbin. "There are alternatives available
that will make us less dependent on oil imports." |
