News
New Report Charts Growth of Childhood Hunger to Suburbs; Alexandria Officials Joined Virginia Fair Share Education Fund Thursday Discuss Findings
Report shows food insecurity growing more rapidly in suburban neighborhoods than in rural or urban city areas!
CONTACT: Nick Arent (202) 543-3332 Ext. 348
Alexandria – Fair Share Education Fund (FSEF) released Childhood Hunger in America’s Suburbs, a new report detailing the changing geography of childhood hunger at a time of growing suburban poverty, at a 9 a.m. news conference on Thursday. FSEF was joined by Alexandria Mayor William Euille, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg, and Ken Naser (Executive Director of ALIVE!) to discuss the report (downloadable here).
“Childhood hunger has changed,” said Nick Arent, Virginia organizer for Fair Share Education Fund. “Hunger is no longer strictly an urban and rural phenomenon. It affects nearly every American community, including the suburbs of Northern Virginia. This includes communities that might otherwise think child hunger is a problem that happens ‘somewhere else.’ Our perceptions have to change -- and with our perceptions, our policies.”
Mayor Euille added, “Hunger in America is a tragedy, and despite the so –called economic recovery, many children go to bed on empty stomachs and this must end. We all can do our part by donating to the various food banks, making certain that ‘no one is left behind’.” He also affirmed his belief that, “Congress needs to restore full funding to the Food Stamp Program, which was cut under the 2014 Farm Bill.”
As Vice Mayor Silberberg stated, "Nearly 60% of the children in our Alexandria school system receive the free or reduced-price lunch program. This often means that their parent or parents are also experiencing food insecurity. These children are food insecure day in and day out and especially when there is a snow day, a weekend, and over the summer gap. We know that many elderly in our city are also food insecure and making painful choices between food and medicine because they cannot afford to buy both. Tragically, they often cannot take their meds without food.”
Having worked directly with low income families, Ken Naser pointed out that "hunger doesn't take a summer vacation. When students aren't in school, many of them face the reality of having to go without adequate meals. For 45 years, ALIVE! has been helping people get much needed groceries for their families, currently distributing 30,000 to 40,000 pounds every month."
Note to media: Fair Share Education Fund has pictures of Thursday’s event. To follow up, please contact Nick at nick@fairshareonline.org or call (202) 543-3332 Ext. 348.
Virginia Fair Share Education Fund is a grassroots field and advocacy group, working to make sure everyone gets, pays, and does their fair share; and plays by the same rules. Find out more at http://www.fairshareonline.org/edfund
BIPARTISAN BUDGET AGREEMENT: A GOOD FIRST STEP FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE ECONOMY, BUT MISSED OPPORTUNITIES REMAIN
Fair Share welcomes end to harmful sequester cuts, but calls on Congress to close corporate tax loopholes and extend help for jobless workers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 11, 2013, David Elliot 202-607-7036
Washington, D.C. – Fair Share today praised the proposed bipartisan budget agreement, noting the two-year spending plan takes a step to stop harmful job loss, lessens debilitating cuts to education and other key programs and allows the economy to grow.
However, Fair Share said legislators must do better, particularly for federal employees and for the more than one million Americans who will see their jobless benefits end right in the middle of the holiday season.
“This bipartisan compromise represents progress,” said Sean Garren, Fair Share legislative director. “It lessens across-the-board spending cuts that hurt kids, parents, seniors and middle-class families and put a drag on our economy. Unfortunately, it also threatens federal employees’ retirement security while failing to close even one wasteful corporate tax loophole. By closing corporate tax loopholes, such as off-shore tax havens, we could recoup more than $70 billion a year. That’s money we could use to help jobless workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. And it’s money we could use to invest further in kids, including jump-starting the President’s early childhood education initiative and ending harmful cuts to food aid programs.”
Nonetheless, Garren praised congressional leaders for – thus far at least – avoiding the partisanship and acrimony that has accompanied budget talks in recent years. “A two-year budget agreement is certainly a step forward,” he said. “Now it is time to focus on finding new ways to grow our economy, strengthen our middle class and ensure that every American has a fair shot in life and an opportunity to succeed.”
Fair Share stands for an America where everyone gets their fair share, does their fair share, and pays their fair share; and where everyone plays by the same rules. Find out more at www.fairshareonline.org
New Report: Biggest Corporate Tax Dodgers Also Shed Local Jobs
For immediate release, Dec. 5, 2013
CONTACT: Nathan Proctor, (617) 747-4429
BOSTON, MA – As Congress gearing up for the next budget deadline, many are raising the possibility of corporate tax reform to help balance the books. But corporations and their lobbyists are falsely warning that tax reform could lead to job loss.
Massachusetts Fair Share is among those calling for an end to the corporate tax loopholes that allow corporations to stash profits offshore to avoid paying taxes on those profits. Corporate tax loopholes cost the American taxpayer more than $100 billion annually in lost revenue. And, according to a new report authored by the Center for Effective Government and released by Massachusetts Fair Share, the corporations who abuse these loopholes do not add more jobs than corporations who pay more.
"Already, these tax loopholes are fundamentally unfair -- they reward huge multinational corporations and put small business at a disadvantage,” said Nathan Proctor, State Director of Massachusetts Fair Share. “Now we learn that not only are they skipping the check, the worst offending companies are laying off more workers. Why are we as taxpayers subsidizing that?”
The report, The Corporate Tax Rate Debate: Lower Taxes on Corporate Profits Not Linked to Job Creation, examined the tax rates paid and jobs created by 60 large, profitable corporations. The companies were not cherry-picked. Rather, they came from a larger group of 280 corporations and CEG examined the 30 companies that paid the highest effective tax rate and the 30 companies that paid the lowest effective tax rate.
The analysis found that the 30 companies that paid the highest tax rates added nearly 200,000 jobs over a five-year period. Those companies that paid little or no taxes (and in many cases received large refunds) shed about 51,000 jobs during that same period.
"The notion that reducing the taxes corporations pay on their profits will create new jobs in the U.S. is just not borne out by the evidence we examined," said Katherine McFate, President and CEO of the Center for Effective Government and one of the co-authors of the report.
Companies examined include many operating in Massachusetts, including Verizon and General Electric which have laid off workers in the Bay State over the last few years.
"A tax loophole should at least encourage creating good Massachusetts jobs – American jobs. Verizon should not be allowed ANY tax loopholes while they outsource jobs overseas," said Boston IBEW Local 2222 Business Manager Myles Calvey. Calvey represents more than 6,800 Verizon employees in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“America should work for everyone. We believe our budget should reflect that value: Everyone should get a fair shot at a decent job and a secure future, and everyone should pay their fair share. No one should be allowed to cheat the system. We should eliminate these counter-productive tax breaks and use that money to rebuild the economy and invest in education,” concluded Proctor.
Massachusetts Fair Share Demands Kids, Not Cuts
With an estimated 2,015 students set to lose access to Head Start this fall, group asks Congress to stop the sequester, fully fund education
BOSTON – Massachusetts families this week are beginning to send their kids back to school, but for an estimated 2,015 pre-school students, there is no back to school. That’s because federal budget cuts have reduced the number of children served by Head Start. Meanwhile, other cuts in education are taking place all across the state, from teacher aides to programs that serve disadvantaged youth and more.
“We believe that every child deserves a fair shot in life and that starts with a quality education,” said Nathan Proctor, Massachusetts Fair Share spokesman. “That’s why we are telling the public about the dangers of cutting education funding, thanking those in Congress who opposed the cuts and holding members who supported them accountable.”
On Wednesday, Massachusetts Fair Share delivered more than 5,000 petition signatures to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s staff at Warren’s district office in Boston. The organization thanked Warren for her opposition to education cuts and urged Congress to put a halt to the sequester and avoid additional cuts. Congress already has cut $1.7 billion in federal education spending nationwide. Massachusetts will lose $47 million in the school year beginning in September.
Paul Toner, president of the 110,000-member Massachusetts Teachers Association, said education cuts are damaging to both the economy and to specific programs vital to student achievement.
“These cuts are hurting the most vulnerable children and families at the worst possible time,” Toner said in a prepared statement. “Across-the-board cuts that reduce funding for Title I, Head Start and programs for the disabled are absolutely the wrong prescription for our students and our economy. They have countless negative effects on our efforts to eliminate the achievement gap and help all students succeed.”
“Head Start began in 1965 during the War on Poverty,” Toner said. “Well, we’re still fighting a war on poverty – and for the sake of our students, their families and our country, we can’t let up.”
Kim Augur, a teacher and union leader from Everett, spoke Wednesday about the impact of the cuts on students in her community and other low-income districts. “Children from Everett are enrolled in the Tri-Cap Head Start program, which covers nine communities,” she said. “Eighteen of these children will lose their spots. That hurts all of us. Students are more likely to do well in school if they have been enrolled in a quality preschool program.”
As part of its Kids, Not Cuts! campaign, Massachusetts Fair Share has been collecting signatures and stories from people across the state who oppose education cuts. Working with the Massachusetts Head Start Association, Massachusetts Fair Share is pulling together statistics and quotes from Head Start locations across the Commonwealth. These stories, statistics and quotes from those opposing cuts in education are available Wednesday for the media.
More photos available here.
Massachusetts Fair Share is a grassroots field and advocacy group, working to provide every American with a fair shot, make sure everyone pays their fair share, and that everybody plays by the same set of rules. Find out more at www.MassachusettsFairShare.org
Today's Senate Vote: A Big Step Forward Toward Growing Our Economy While Creating A Fair Commonsense Immigration Process
CONTACT: David Elliot, 202-607-7036
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today’s Senate passage of bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform is a crucial step toward what an overwhelming majority of Americans want: a stronger economy, a level playing field and a fair shot for everyone.
“When we bring 11.5 million aspiring Americans out of the shadows and allow them to join the legal, regulated workforce, we will grow our economy,” said Sean Garren, Fair Share Legislative Director. “Employers who could otherwise game the system can no longer cheat their employees on wages and working conditions. Wages and benefits will go up – benefitting not just new Americans but all workers. And that means more dollars pumped into the economy. Everyone’s boat rises – more consumer spending, more jobs, more money for things America needs.”
Garren added, ”Today’s strong bipartisan vote should put the House on notice that Americans want Congress to create an immigration process that recognizes the talent, ingenuity and industry of aspiring Americans. This is no time for gridlock-as-usual. All people in this country should pay their fair share and deserve a fair shot and the freedom to pursue their dreams.”
Economists estimate that creating a fair and comprehensive immigration process with a roadmap to citizenship would inject $1.5 trillion into the economy over a ten-year period. Studies show that naturalized citizens earn 8 to 11 percent more in wages after naturalization. Bringing millions of aspiring Americans out of the shadows would result in a multiplier effect that would spur consumer spending, create jobs and even generate critically-needed revenue for the country’s needs, ranging from education to health care to strengthening our infrastructure and preserving our safety net.
Fair Share Welcomes Florida Consumer Action Network
Fair Share is proud to announce the addition of a new affiliate – Florida Consumer Action Network. Florida joins our growing network of state groups as we fight for an America where everyone gets their fair share, pays their fair share and does their fair share; and where everybody pays by the same rules.
Florida Consumer Action Network
Founded in December 1984 from a coalition of existing grassroots organizations, Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) continues to be the vehicle that allows ordinary citizens to win on critical issues. FCAN is affiliated with USAction, Consumer Federation of America and, now, Fair Share.
FCAN’s members and staff build grassroots support on issues, work with government agencies and the media, and lobby elected officials. Program staff and board members work to develop and mobilize activists from dozens of allied and affiliated organizations, including environmental, religious, labor, civic and senior citizen groups.
FAIR SHARE APPLAUDS BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
Contact: Craig Auster, 845-612-3266
April 17, 2013
PRESS RELEASE: FAIR SHARE APPLAUDS
BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
WASHINGTON, DC – Today Fair Share applauded the U.S. Senate for making significant progress towards comprehensive immigration reform that will create a fairer immigration system and a fairer economy. Fair Share Managing Director Cassandra McKee released the following statement:
“The legislation by the bipartisan Gang of 8 represents a critical first step in the long process to winning fair immigration reform policies. Fair Share will continue to work with our allies in the labor and immigrant rights’ communities to ensure the final legislation is closely aligned with our values and those of the majority of Americans who support reform.
Fair Share launched our “Immigration for a Fair Economy” campaign to help turn public support for comprehensive reform into substantive policy changes. By highlighting the economic benefits of immigration reform at a time when our country is still slowly recovering from recession, Fair Share is pressing Members of Congress to do the right thing for our country.
Fair Share believes we can fix our immigration system and make a huge investment in our economy--if we seize this opportunity. Today’s legislation is an important step in the right direction.”
Fair Share stands for an America where everyone gets their fair share, pays their fair share, and does their fair share; and where everybody plays by the same rules.
They're getting desperate: Republicans in Pennsylvania try to rig Electoral College for their candidates
Philadelphia, PA — After Mitt Romney’s loss in Pennsylvania by more than 300,000 votes, the state's Republican Party has a new scheme to help their presidential candidates: rig the system by changing the rules for awarding Electoral College votes.
Pennsylvania Fair Share Organizer Keith Crosby, "It smacks of desperation. They lose the election, so instead of trying to win back Pennsylvanians with policy that helps people, they want to move the goal posts. We think everyone should play by the same rules."
Fair Share National Campaign Director Nathan Proctor, "This is more sour grapes. Instead of cooking up schemes to deliver the White House to a candidate that cannot get the majority of Americans' votes, how about coming up with a candidate that can actually win on their own merit? We are joining with our allies to demand Gov. Corbett come out again this policy right away, and oppose the plan to change how Pennsylvania's votes get counted in presidential elections."
Pennsylvania Fair Share is a statewide, grassroots field and advocacy group, working to provide every Pennsylvanian with a fair shot, make sure everyone pays their fair share, and that everybody plays by the same set of rules. In the 2012 elections, Pennsylvania Fair Share knocked on tens of thousands of doors from Erie to West Chester, talking with Pennsylvanians about important issues of economic fairness and about the negative impact of big money in politics.
Fair Share Alliance Announces Launch of 16 State Campaigns to Support American Jobs Act
Washington DC – Brad Martin, Executive Director of the Fair Share Alliance, announced today the launch of Colorado Fair Share’s canvass program in Pueblo, Colorado -- our 22nd citizen outreach office launched in the last month to build grassroots support for President Obama’s American Jobs Act. “We face a huge jobs crisis in this country, people are really hurting, so we’re taking our campaign door-to-door in16 states to build public support and overcome right-wing Republican opposition to the American Jobs Act in the Congress,” said Martin.
President Obama knows the scale and hurt of the jobs crisis -- his 2009 jobs initiative created or saved over 4 million jobs, but he knows there’s a much greater need and proposed the American Jobs Act which can put 2 million Americans back to work. Martin said, “The impact of unemployment is personal – hitting individuals and families one painful pink-slip at a time. The solution is built the same way – one person at a time. By building support home-by-home and neighbor-by-neighbor, state Fair Shares will build the political power necessary to pass the American Jobs Act, and other jobs legislation that will turn pink-slips into new job offers for millions of Americans.”
“We applaud the President’s recent and urgent calls to the Republican leadership to get back to work putting America back to work. Just last week, our 22 offices had 150 canvassers out knocking on 55,000 doors to build support for the American Jobs Act. As our canvass teams grow, these numbers will grow and eventually we’ll reach out to over 1.4 million Americans -- putting critical pressure on Congress to heed the President’s call to action.”
Fair Share has launched 22 door-to-door grassroots canvass offices over the last month in 16 states – AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, MA, MN, NC, NH, NM, NV, OH, PA, TX, VA and WI -- campaigning for the American Jobs Act and a larger package of jobs legislation that combined will put 4 million Americans back to work. Fair Share Alliance is a non-profit 501 (c)(4) organization founded in 2007 and works to build grassroots support to provide every American with a fair shot at a good job, a secure future, and a strong voice in our democracy.