News Release

ECONOMISTS, LABOR LEADERS: ECONOMY NEEDS SUBSTANTIAL, STRATEGIC, SUSTAINED $900B OR MORE BOOST OVER TWO YEARS

Toby Chaudhuri — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:23:37 -0800

WASHINGTON – The economy needs at least a $900 billion boost over the next two years, according to a detailed economic recovery plan released today by more than a hundred economists and dozens of labor and public interest leaders who represent more than 20 million Americans.

With payrolls plunging, retail sales dropping and manufacturing contracting, the Campaign for America’s Future today released a statement signed by 127 economists, 27 major labor leaders and 59 public interest organizations, outlining a “substantial, strategic, and sustained” program for economic recovery. The statement, released on a conference call with reporters today, calls for a floor of $450 billion a year for the next two years. Given the severity of the recent financial crisis, they argue that $450 billion a year over two years should be considered the “floor” of any plan.

The plan stresses that investments be made in areas vital to the economy – in energy efficiency and renewable energy, in modernizing our collapsing infrastructure and in expanding pre-kindergarten and college affordability. It urges aid to states and localities to avoid devastating layoffs, and assistance to the low wage workers most impacted by the downturn.

Campaign for America’s Future co-director Robert Borosage said these investments should be made as soon as possible and not only continue for two years, but be sustained with needed investments afterwards.

“Congress must know by now that the time for delay, for half-measures, for one-off rebates is over. We need a substantial, strategic and sustained plan to get this economy going,” said Borosage. “President Obama has the moment, the mandate, and the majority to drive fundamental reform over this next period. It is vital that citizen leaders not sit by passively, but help define the course and clear the way.”

University of Texas professor and economist James Galbraith joined Borosage on today’s call. Galbraith said these investments will have a greater return on investment in generating jobs and growth than tax cuts, and should be the centerpiece of a strategic recovery plan.

“Economic recovery in an existential crisis like this means actually building a new economy,” said Galbraith. “For that, we need investment—to restore our roads, rails, transit, broadband, and water systems, to build parks and museums and libraries, to protect the environment.”

United Steelworkers president and AFL-CIO executive council chair Leo Gerard also joined Borosage on today’s call. Gerard said signers of today’s statement will mobilize a major educational effort to encourage Congress to act rapidly to create a plan ready for President-elect Barack Obama to sign on day one, noting that “substantial action to get the real economy going is long overdue.”

# # #

**For a copy and summary of today’s economic statement and a complete list of signers, please visit http://ourfuture.org/mainstreetrecovery .**

MAIN STREET ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN
http://ourfuture.org/mainstreetrecovery

Breakdown of the investments outlined in the economic plan (investment area -- first year, second year. Figures in billions):

--Green investments -- 50, 50
--Infrastructure -- 75, 150
--Aid to states -- 50, 75
--Education -- 40, 40
--Research and development -- 5, 10
--Health care -- 15, 55
--Unemployment insurance and COBRA subsidy -- 15, 15
--Food stamps -- 15, 15
--Poverty reduction -- 40, 40
--Middle-class tax cut -- 145, -
--Total over two years -- 900

More than 127 economists, 27 major labor leaders and 59 public interest organizations signed the Campaign for America’s Future’s economic plan. Signers include:

--John Sweeney, president, AFL-CIO
--Andrew Stern, president, SEIU
--Gerald McEntee, international president, AFSCME
--Anna Burger, chair, Change to Win
--Ron Gettelfinger, president, UAW
--Dennis van Roekel, president, NEA
--Leo Gerard, international president, USW
--Mike Wessell, senior advisor, Alliance for American Manufacturing
--Robert Borosage, co-director, Campaign for America's Future
--David Bonior, chair, American Rights at Work
--James Galbraith, economist
--Robert Johnson, economist
--Heidi Hartmann, President, Institute for Women’s Policy Research
--Jane D'Arista, Financial Markets Center
--Robert Kuttner, co-editor, The American Prospect and Demos senior fellow
--Julie Matthaei, Professor of Economics, Wellesley College
--Jeff Faux, economist, Economic Policy Institute
--Dean Baker, economist, Center for Economic and Policy Research
--Carl Pope, director, Sierra Club

Economic And Energy Issues, Ending War In Iraq, Top Netroots' Concerns

Toby Chaudhuri — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:00:00 -0700

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Progressive bloggers and activists are most concerned about solving basic economic problems and our country’s energy crisis as well as ending the war in Iraq, according to a straw poll of participants at this year’s Netroots Nation conference conducted by the Campaign for America’s Future and Democracy Corps. Those polled also believe that ending the war in Iraq and solving our energy and health care crises should be top priorities for the next president.

“This straw poll was designed to help us understand a little more about who our netroots activists are and where they stand,” said Toby Chaudhuri, communications director for the Campaign for America’s Future. “There’s a sea change happening in American politics and it’s growing on the Internet. Progressives are gaining popularity, strength, capacity and political sophistication, far outpacing conservatives online.”

The straw poll helps describe the progressive netroots’ increased involvement in politics, which 68 percent say is because of the Internet.

Nearly half of those who participated said they contributed more than $200 to political campaigns in the last year (47 percent), with about a third saying they had given more than $400 (32 percent). Two-thirds also donated to political campaigns at the federal level (65 percent) and state and local level (67 percent).

Those who responded clocked lots of hours working on campaigns too. Although two-thirds said they don’t work in politics professionally (66 percent), the average blogger spends the equivalent of a part-time work schedule on political activities, averaging 24 hours of work every week.

Although it is widely understood that bloggers are young political beginners, about half have been active in politics for more than a decade (48 percent), with more than three-quarters active for more than 5 years (78 percent). Fifty-two percent have volunteered for state and local campaigns while 41 percent have done so for federal campaigns. Nearly 70 percent said they are 30 or above and about half (46 percent) said they are more than 40.

# # #

**NOTE: Complete straw poll results are available at www.ourfuture.org and www.democracycorps.org.**

NETROOTS NATION 2008
STRAW POLL FQ
Conducted By
Campaign for America’s Future and Democracy Corps
Thursday, July 17 to Sunday, July 20, 2008
Austin, Texas

ISSUES AND CONCERNS

Of the list of concerns below, please indicate which one of these is your top concern at this time.

Energy and global warming - 19%
The growing gap between the rich and the poor - 17%
Loss of constitutional rights - 15%
The war in Iraq - 11%
Corruption and special interests running Washington - 10%
Lack of affordable health care - 9%
The federal deficit and government spending - 3%
High gas prices - 2%
Lack of equal rights for gay and lesbian community - 2%
Terrorism - 1%
Making education more affordable - 1%
Increased debt owed to foreign nations - 0%
Increased taxes and more spending - 0%
Illegal immigration - 0%

Now, please indicate which of the concerns listed below is your next top concern at this time.

The war in Iraq - 17%
The growing gap between the rich and the poor - 12%
Loss of constitutional rights - 12%
Lack of affordable health care - 10%
Energy and global warming - 9%
Corruption and special interests running Washington - 9%
Illegal immigration - 4%
High gas prices - 4%
The federal deficit and government spending - 3%
Lack of equal rights for gay and lesbian community - 3%
Making education more affordable - 2%
Increased taxes and more spending - 1%
Increased debt owed to foreign nations - 1%
Terrorism - 0%

Now something a little different, of that same list of concerns, please indicate below which one of these you feel should be the top priority for the next administration.

The war in Iraq - 23%
Energy and global warming - 20%
Lack of affordable health care - 15%
The growing gap between the rich and the poor - 12%
Loss of constitutional rights - 7%
Corruption and special interests running Washington - 6%
The federal deficit and government spending - 3%
Increased debt owed to foreign nations - 3%
High gas prices - 2%
Making education more affordable - 1%
Illegal immigration - 1%
Terrorism - 0%
Increased taxes and more spending - 0%
Lack of equal rights for gay and lesbian community - 0%

Now, please indicate which of the concerns listed below you feel should be the next highest priority for the next administration.

Lack of affordable health care - 17%
Energy and global warming - 17%
The war in Iraq - 16%
The growing gap between the rich and the poor - 12%
Loss of constitutional rights - 10%
Corruption and special interests running Washington - 8%
The federal deficit and government spending - 4%
Making education more affordable - 3%
High gas prices - 3%
Increased debt owed to foreign nations - 3%
Terrorism - 1%
Illegal immigration - 1%
Increased taxes and more spending - 0%
Lack of equal rights for gay and lesbian community - 0%

CONGRESS

Overall, how much do you think Congress has accomplished this term, that is since January 2007: a great deal, a good amount, not too much, or nothing at all?

Not too much - 68%
A good amount - 16%
Nothing at all - 12%
A great deal -2%

[If 'Nothing at all' or 'Not too much'] On the scale below please indicate who you feel is most to blame for the lack of accomplishment in Congress?

Democrats in Congress are to blame (1) - 5%
2 - 1%
3 - 2%
4 - 2%
The Administration and Republicans and Democrats in Congress are to blame equally (5) - 29%
7 - 17%
8 - 15%
6 -11%
9 -3%
The Administration and Republicans in Congress are to blame (10) - 15%

VICE PRESIDENT

Please choose the statement which comes closer to your view, even if neither is exactly right:

Obama should pick someone politically similar to himself, reinforcing the dynamic nature of his candidacy and the urgent need for change, and keeping true to his liberal roots - 72%

Obama should pick someone more toward the political center in order to help balance the ticket and make him more electable - 25%

INVOLVEMENT

How long, would you say, have you been active in politics?

10+ years - 48%
5-10 years - 30%
3-5 years - 18%
0-2 years - 7%

Do you yourself post or contribute to a political blog?

Yes - 68%
No - 30%

[If 'Yes'] How long have you been posting or contributing to a political blog?

4-5 years - 23%
3-4 years - 24%
1-2 years - 27%
Less than 1 year - 14%

Please indicate below in what ways you are currently active in state and local politics and campaigns. Please check all that apply.

Donate money to a political campaign at the state or local level - 67%
Volunteer for a political campaign at the state or local level - 52%
Write for a political blog focusing on local or state politics - 26%
Work professionally for a political campaign at the state or local level - 19%
Write for an online publication other than a blog focusing on local or state politics - 12%
Produce other media or "mashups" focusing on local or state politics - 8%
Write for a print publication focusing on local or state politics - 6%

Now, please indicate below in what ways you are currently active in federal politics and campaigns. Please check all that apply.

Donate money to a political campaign at the federal level - 65%
Volunteer for a political campaign at the federal level - 41%
Write for a political blog focusing on federal politics - 30%
Work professionally for a political campaign at the federal level - 12%
Write for an online publication other than a blog focusing on federal politics - 8%
Produce other media or "mashups" focusing on federal politics - 8%
Write for a print publication focusing on federal politics - 3%

Approximately how much money have you contributed to political organizations or campaigns over the past 12 months.

$400 or more - 32%
$300-$400 - 5%
$200-$300 - 10%
$150-$200 - 9%
$100-$150 - 9%
$50-$100 - 12%
Less than $50 - 10%
$0 - I haven't contributed - 11%
Prefer not to answer - 1%

Do you work with a political organization, campaign or other such entity as part of your occupation?

No - 66%
Yes - 32%

Approximately how many hours a week do you devote to a political organization, campaign or website?

(Mean: 23.5, Median 12.5)

Had it not been for the advent of the internet, do you think your level of activity in politics would be more, less, or about the same as it is now?

Less - 68%
About the same - 25%
More - 6%

DEMOGRAPHICS

What is your gender?

Male - 58%
Female - 40%

What year were you born?

18-29 - 27%
30-39 - 23%
40-49 - 22%
50-64 - 22%
64+ - 2%

Please choose the term that best describes how you think of yourself in political terms.

Progressive - 47%
Liberal - 40%
Moderate - 12%
Conservative - 0%

# # #

GAS TO COST HOUSEHOLDS $2,300 MORE THIS YEAR THAN IN 2001

Toby Chaudhuri — Thu, 22 May 2008 06:00:00 -0700

WASHINGTON – Faced with gas prices nearing $4 per gallon and the heavy summer driving months ahead, households are expected to spend $2,300 more on gas this year than seven years ago, according to a new report released today by the Campaign for America’s Future.

Campaign for America’s Future co-director Robert Borosage said that the all-time high in gas prices shouldn’t surprise anyone because big oil companies wrote President Bush’s energy policy and the war in Iraq has driven up prices around the world.

“For seven years, Bush’s policies have completely failed to protect our nation’s energy security,” said Borosage. “While oil company profits are the highest in history, people across the country are paying the price at the pump. With everyday costs on the rise, Americans are under the most economic pressure in recent history.”

The report also provides state-specific evidence that the economy is in dire straits and that American families are hurting. It provides detailed information about state job losses and stagnant wages, and shows energy, health care and college tuition costs on the rise. States experiencing the most economic difficulties are Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Maine and Tennessee.

# # #

**NOTE: An electronic copy of the report is available at www.ourfuture.org.**

GAS PRICE INCREASE
BACKGROUND

The annualized cost of gasoline per household is computed by multiplying three figures.

--The average number of vehicles per household in both 2001 and 2008: 1.9
[Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy Information Admin., Transportation Energy Consumption Surveys]

--The average number of gallons consumed in a year: 573 in 2001 and 597 in 2008
[Source: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Admin., Annual Vehicle Distance Traveled in Miles and Related Data.]

--The average price per gallon: $1.47 for 2001 (which is $1.78 adjusted to today’s dollar) and $3.80 today
[Source: Oil Price Information Service in cooperation with Wright Express, distributed by AAA.]

In 2001, (1.9 vehicles) x (573 gallons per vehicle) x ($1.47 per gallon) = $1,600.39

2001 adjusted for inflation, (1.9 vehicles) x (573 gallons per vehicle) x ($1.78 per gallon)= $1,937.89

In 2008, (1.9 vehicles) x (597 gallons per vehicle) x ($3.80 per gallon) = $4,310.34

Difference from 2001 to 2008 = $2,709.95

Difference from 2001 to 2008 adjusted for inflation = $2,372.45

In sum, “more than $2,300” is a very conservative figure.

ECONOMIC INSECURITY REPORT
STATE-SPECIFIC BACKGROUND

--MICHIGAN: Michigan’s number one ranking in economic pressures reveals America’s shrinking industrial base. The state has high unemployment and the largest decline per capita in both manufacturing jobs and construction jobs.

--NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina’s high ranking also stems from a decline in industry. It has the fourth highest decrease in goods-producing jobs and third highest decrease in manufacturing since 2000. North Carolinians also suffer problems with health care coverage. Thirteen percent fewer people in North Carolina got health care through their employers in 2006 than in 2000 and nine percent spend more than a quarter of their income on health care.

--OHIO: Ohio’s ranking is the result of low wages and high costs. Wages increased only two percent since 2000, and more than one in ten construction jobs has been lost. Public college tuition in Ohio has increased by more than 62 percent over the same period. A year of state college now costs 20 percent of a median Ohio family’s income.

More state-specific data is available at www.ourfuture.org.

State of the Union 2008

Toby Chaudhuri — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:22:00 -0800

WASHINGTON -- President Bush is expected to address problems in the nation’s economy while hailing the state of the union as strong tonight, but for Americans worrying about how to make ends meet, the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to numbers compiled today by the Campaign for America’s Future.

ON INCOMES:

-- Median household income in 2000 (inflation-adjusted): $49,158
-- Median household income in 2006: $48,201
-- 8-year increase in median household income in 2001: $6,000
-- 6-year decrease in median household income in 2007: $1,100
[U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 - 2007]

-- Salary of a full-time minimum wage employee without vacation: $12,168
-- Average salary of a CEO of one of America’s top 500 companies: $15.2 million
[Forbes Magazine, May 3, 2007]

-- Number of Americans living in poverty in 2001: 31.6 million
-- Number of Americans living in poverty in 2008: 36.5 million
[U.S. Census Bureau, Aug. 2007]

-- Amount more Americans earned than spent in 2001: +2.3 percent
-- Amount less Americans are earning than spending in 2008: -0.5 percent
[Bureau of Economic Analysis]

-- Total consumer credit debt in 2001: $7.65 trillion
-- Total consumer credit debt in 2008: $12.8 trillion
[Insurance Information Institute]

-- Decrease in median income from 2000-2006 in White American households: $745
-- Decrease in median income from 2000-2006 in African American households: $2,766
-- Decrease in median income from 2000-2006 in Hispanic American households: $1,043
-- Decrease in median income from 2000-2006 in Asian American households: $1,381
[U.S. Census Bureau. Aug. 2007]

-- Median income of African American households in 2006: $31,969
-- Median income of Hispanic American households in 2006: $37,781
-- Median income of White American households in 2006: $50,673
-- Median income of Asian American households in 2006: $63,900
[U.S. Census Bureau. Aug. 2007]

-- African Americans living in poverty in 2006: 24.3 percent
-- Hispanic Americans living in poverty in 2006: 20.6 percent
-- Asian Americans living in poverty in 2006: 10.1 percent
-- White Americans living in poverty in 2006: 8.2 percent
[U.S. Census Bureau. Aug. 2007]

ON HOUSING:

-- Percentage increase in home foreclosures in the last year: 68
[RealtyTrac. Dec. 19, 2007]

ON JOBS:

-- Total number of American manufacturing jobs in 2000: 17,263,000
-- Total number of American manufacturing jobs in 2006: 14,197,000
-- Number of American manufacturing jobs lost between 2000 and 2006: 3,066,000
[Bureau of Labor Statistics]

-- Yearly average number of new private sector jobs created from 1992-2000: 1.76 million
-- Yearly average number of new private sector jobs created from 2001-2008: 369,000
[Bureau of Labor Statistics]

-- Jobless African American workers in Dec. 2007: 9.0 percent
-- Jobless Hispanic American workers in Dec. 2007: 6.3 percent
-- Jobless White American workers in Dec. 2007: 4.4 percent
-- Jobless Asian American workers in Dec. 2007: 3.7 percent
[U.S. Department of Labor Employment Situation Summary, Jan. 4, 2008]

ON ENERGY:

-- Average price of a gallon of home heating oil in Jan. 2000: $1.40
-- Average price of a gallon of home heating oil in Jan. 2008: $3.39
[U.S. Energy Information Administration]

-- Average price of a gallon of gas in Jan. 2000: $1.59
-- Average price of a gallon of gas in Jan. 2008: $3.14
[U.S. Energy Information Administration]

-- Increase in the average price of home heating oil since Jan. 2000: +142 percent
-- Increase in the average price of gas since Jan. 2000: +98 percent

-- Price of a gallon of home heating oil in the winter of 2001-2002 (inflation adjusted): $1.36
-- Projected price of a gallon of home heating oil in the winter of 2007-2008: $3.32
[Energy Administration, Jan. 2008]

-- Amount of U.S. liquid fuel consumption that was imported in 2001: 52.75 percent
-- Amount of U.S. liquid fuel consumption that is imported in 2008: 60.38 percent
[U.S. Energy Information Administration]

-- Exxon Mobil profits in 2000: $7.9 billion
-- Exxon Mobil profits in 2006: $36.1 billion
-- Exxon Mobil’s profit per second during the second quarter of 2006: $1,318
[CNNMoney.com, July 27, 2006; Fortune500 2006]

ON HEALTHCARE:

-- Americans without health insurance in 2000: 38.4 million
-- Americans without health insurance in 2006: 46.9 million
[U.S. Census Bureau, Aug. 2007]

-- Decrease over 2 years in the number of uninsured Americans in 2001: 4.5 million
-- Increase over 6 years in the number of uninsured Americans in 2008: 8.5 million
[U.S. Census Bureau, Aug. 2007]

-- Number of children without health insurance: 8.7 million
-- Number of times President Bush vetoed additional health insurance for children: 2
[U.S. Census Bureau, Aug. 2007]

-- Americans receiving employment-based health insurance in 2000: 64.2 percent
-- Americans receiving employment-based health insurance in 2006: 59.7 percent
[U.S. Census Bureau, Aug. 2007]

-- Annual cost of family health insurance premiums in 2000 (inflation adjusted): $7,643
-- Annual cost of family health insurance premiums in 2006: $11,480
[Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust]

-- Uninsured White Americans in 2006: 10.8 percent
-- Uninsured African Americans in 2006: 20.5 percent
-- Uninsured Asians Americans in 2006: 15.5 percent
-- Uninsured Hispanic Americans in 2006: 34.1 percent
[U.S. Census Bureau, Aug. 2007]

ON COLLEGE COSTS:

-- Average cost per year at a public four-year college in 2000: $10,153
-- Average cost per year at a public four-year college in 2006: $13,089
[CollegeBoard, 2007]

-- Average yearly change in tuition costs for public four-year college since 2000: +29 percent
-- Average percent change in median household income during same period: -2 percent
-- Average debt shouldered by 2006 college graduates: $21,000
[The Project on Student Debt, Sept. 2007]

ON IRAQ AND THE MILITARY:

-- Number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq before the “Mission Accomplished” speech in 2003: 139
-- Number of US troops killed in Iraq as of Jan. 2008: 3,907
-- Number of Iraqi deaths after U.S. invasion: 1,139,602
[iCasualties.org., Jan. 3, 2008]

-- Number of US troops wounded in Iraq before the “Mission Accomplished” speech: 542
-- Number of U.S. troops wounded in Iraq as of Jan. 2008: 28,661
[iCasualties.org, Jan. 3, 2008]

-- Amount of total world military spending spent by U.S.: 47 percent
[Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation]

-- Total U.S. military expenditures requested for 2008: $644 billion
-- Total military expenditures of the 10 next top spending countries combined: $446.1 billion
[Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Includes China, Russia, U.K., France, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, India and Brazil, Feb. 5, 2007]

-- U.S. military base budget in 2001: $297.1 billion
-- US pending military base budget 2008, not including Iraq and Afghanistan: $481.4 billion
[White House Office of Management and Budget, Feb. 5, 2007]

-- U.S. budget spent on military not including Iraq in 2007: 50 percent
-- U.S. budget spent on education in 2007: 6.2 percent
[White House Office of Management and Budget, Feb. 6, 2006.]

-- Number of active duty army divisions rated at the highest readiness levels in 2001: All
-- Number of active duty or reserve brigade in the U.S. considered fully combat ready: 0
[Speaker of the House, Nov. 29, 2007]

ON DEBTS AND DEFICITS:

-- The national debt in 2001: $5.7 trillion
-- The national debt in Jan. 2008: $9.2 trillion
[U.S. Dept. of the Treasury]

-- Monthly U.S. trade deficit in Oct. 2000: $33.8 billion
-- Monthly U.S. trade deficit in Oct. 2007: $57.8 billion
-- U.S. trade deficit in 2000: $380 billion
-- U.S. trade deficit in 2007: $759 billion
[U.S. Census Bureau, Dec. 12, 2007]

-- Value of one Euro in Jan. 2000: $1.01
-- Value of one Euro in Jan. 2008: $1.45
-- Loss of value of the Dollar relative to the Euro from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2008: 45 percent
[Federal Reserve Statistical Release]

-- Value of an ounce of gold in 2000 (inflation adjusted): $319
-- Value of an ounce of gold in 2008: $892
[GoldPrice.org, Jan. 22 2008]

-- U.S. budget surplus in 2000: +$236 billion
-- U.S. budget deficit in 2007: -$354 billion
[House Office of Management and Budget]

ON PRODUCT AND FOOD SAFETY:

-- Increase in consumer product safety spending from 2000 to 2006: 9 percent
-- Increase in number of U.S. imports from 2000 to 2006: 30 percent
[Consumer Federation of America]

-- Increase in the number of federal food inspections from 2000 to 2006: 8 percent
-- Percentage increase in number of agricultural imports from 2000 to 2006: 39 percent
-- Number of cases of food borne disease outbreaks in 2006: 25,659
[U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Food & Drug Administration, Center for Disease Control]

ON WORLD OPINION:

-- Number of people abroad who viewed America favorably in 2001: 58.3 percent
-- Number of people abroad who viewed America favorably in 2007: 39.2 percent
[Pew Research Center]

-- Number of people in Great Britain who viewed America favorably in 2001: 83 percent
-- Number of people in Great Britain who viewed America favorably in 2007: 56 percent
[Pew Research Center]

-- Number of people in Indonesia who viewed America favorably in 2001: 75 percent
-- Number of people in Indonesia who viewed America favorably in 2007: 30 percent
[Pew Research Center]

-- Number of people in Germany who viewed America favorably in 2001: 78 percent
-- Number of people in Germany who viewed America favorably in 2007: 37 percent
[Pew Research Center]

FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND GOOD JOBS IN LOS ANGELES

Scott Laczay — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:17:41 -0800

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will join Apollo Alliance President Jerome Ringo, Councilmember Herb Wesson and members of the Los Angeles Apollo Alliance on Wednesday to announce the city's commitment to leading the fight for energy independence and job creation by promoting a green, sustainable and equitable economy.

Mayor Villaraigosa will also sign the "Apollo Challenge" and launch the Apollo Green Building Initiative, a bold plan to lay the foundation for an equitable and sustainable economy in Los Angeles by "greening" existing, deteriorating city-owned buildings while also creating good jobs that pay livable wages for low-income residents.

The Los Angeles Apollo Alliance is part of the broader nationwide Apollo Alliance that unites nearly 16 million union members and 11 million environmental organization members across the country to create new jobs, new energy and new independence for America by investing in the domestic clean energy sector.

-- Villaraigosa Announced Partnership With Apollo Alliance

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006 at 5 p.m. PST

WHERE: Holman United Methodist Church, 3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif.

PARTICIPANTS: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles, Calif., Jerome Ringo, president, Apollo Alliance, Councilmember Herb Wesson, 10th District