Borosage Urges Progressives to Rally Around Obama Economic Rec...( Progressives Look to Obama Plan as Do...),Health

Progressives Look to Obama Plan as Down Payment on Long-Term Investment in America's Future

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With more people filing for unemployment than at any time in the past quarter century amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, Campaign for America's Future co-director Robert Borosage urged progressives who helped deliver President Obama's electoral victory to rally around an historic opportunity to rebuild America. Borosage said quick and bold action is needed now to move the economic recovery plan despite obstacles in Congress.

STATEMENT OF ROBERT BOROSAGE

America voted for change last year, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act takes a bold first step on the path toward progressive change. The country needs our help. Conservatives are trying to delay and dilute the legislation. Quick, bold action on the economy is critical if we are to blunt the accelerating job losses of the Bush recession.

We are standing at the precipice of an historic period of reform, during which we have an unprecedented opportunity to make lasting, positive change. We can't back away from the bold initiatives required to make this change. The current economic crisis demands a substantial, strategic and sustained recovery plan. This plan is a down payment on long-term investments in vital, core elements of the nation, including health care, education, infrastructure and sustainable energy.

Conservatives argue the plan should be smaller and include more tax cuts. This is seriously wrong-headed. If anything, the plan should be larger and contain more public investment. Conservatives have learned nothing from the collapse of their economic policies and the decline of their political fortunes. By staying in obstructionist mode they are placing themselves on the wrong side of history.