GOP Promises Retraining For Lost jobs, But Cuts Funding

At a time when more people are worried about their economic well being and job security, Republicans promise they’ll be there when the chips are down. Like retraining the unemployed who have lost their livelyhoods due to the global economy. “There’s nothing to worry about, we’ll retrain you,” is the familiar rhetoric. What they mean to say is, “we’ll be there if we can afford to help you get retraining.” The Wisconsing State Journal recently exposed the devestating effect of taxcuts and the underfunding of “discressionary programs,” like employment services.

“The state plans to consolidate its job assistance programs in 12 regional sites, pulling staff from dozens of smaller towns such as Monroe, Ladysmith and Richland Center and placing them in bigger cities like Milwaukee, Madison and Eau Claire. The action will make it harder for veterans, people with disabilities, the unemployed and the underemployed to find jobs and receive other services, advocates said. The centers rely on federal funding, and cutbacks require…consolidation. A 2004 study by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy at UW-Madison…showed a 56 percent drop in federal employment and training funding.”

It should be interesting to see where the unemployed make budgetary sacrifices at home to pay for the high fuel costs driving to and from the now distant regional job assistance sites. Morally and ethically, is this really the place to slash spending? Here’s a discription of the now dramatically underfunded safety net:

“ WHAT IS A JOB CENTER? A job center is consortium of government agencies and others that help people find jobs. Services are targeted to veterans, the disabled and the unemployed and underemployed. Services include career planning, information on such support services as child care and transportation, and financial literacy.”

Republicans should be ashamed. Yea, like that’ll happen.