Children's Defense Fund

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October 8, 2004  
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Ron Eckstein: (202) 662-3609
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Weak September Job Growth Spotlights Failed Economic Policies

Washington, D.C. The U.S. economy generated fewer than 100,000 jobs last month, a tepid growth rate that fell far short of the 150,000 anticipated by Wall Street economists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 1.6 million fewer private sector jobs than Americans had in January 2001. This is the only Presidential Administration since the Great Depression to have presided over a loss in employment as it nears the end of its first term. Average job growth over the past three months was not even vigorous enough to keep pace with population growth, let alone to provide opportunities for increasing numbers of parents seeking work.

The Bush Administration's 2003 tax cuts (the poorly termed "Jobs and Growth Plan") promised to create 306,000 new jobs each month. This level has only been reached in two of the last 15 months, leaving the Administration 2.9 million jobs short of the claimed benefits of this misguided policy.

The Administration and Congress have showered fiscally irresponsible tax cuts on the richest Americans in place of an economic policy focused on creating jobs for struggling families, and the result is that our children certainly will be left with the burden of record-breaking deficits. The number of Americans who have fallen into poverty continues to grow, and the median income of those on the lowest rung of the economic ladder continues to shrink.

"It's time for the Bush Administration and Congress to change direction and pass legislation that would benefit the average American family," said Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund. "The Administration has clearly failed to create enough opportunities in which families can thrive so our children can be safely prepared for adulthood."

 

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The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds.

 

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