News Release

NEW JOBLESS NUMBERS PUSH MISERY INDEX UP TO 11.7 PERCENT

Toby Chaudhuri — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON -- The misery index hit the worst level since May 1991, according to a new analysis released today by the Campaign for America’s Future. New jobless numbers jumped to a 5-year high of 6.1 percent, pushing the misery index to 11.7 percent. The index hit double digits in June 2008 for the first time since 1993.

“Honest people who work hard for a living are struggling to make ends meet,” said Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future. “The misery is felt at the gas pump and the grocery store and it’s getting worse, not better.”

The misery index is a gauge of economic well-being widely used by economists for decades. It represents the sum of the unemployment and inflation rates. Since unemployment and inflation are undesirable, the lower the index, the better.

The misery index played a role in the 1980 presidential election when President Reagan reminded voters that stagflation increased it to more than 20 percent. With unemployment and inflation on the rise, the misery index is important again.

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KEY ECONOMIC FIGURES

--Unemployment rate: 6.1 percent

--Inflation rate: 5.6 percent

--Misery index: 11.7 percent

[SOURCES: ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/suppl/empsit.cpseea1.txt; ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/cpi/cpiai.txt; http://www.miseryindex.us/indexbymonth.asp]

NOTING THE FAILURE TO RESPOND TO HURRICANE KATRINA, NEW TV AD TELLS REPUBLICANS “THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES”

Toby Chaudhuri — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

ST. PAUL, MINN. – When Republican delegates check-in to their hotel rooms in St. Paul this week, they will receive a “thank you” message on their televisions. An ad called “Thanks For The Memories,” produced by Campaign for America’s Future, will broadcast unforgettable moments from the last eight years that conservatives wish the country would forget.

With Hurricane Gustav on the nation’s mind, the ad reminds viewers of the bungled response to Hurricane Katrina. It also highlights skyrocketing gas prices, soaring home foreclosures, the infamous “mission accomplished" banner and tells conservatives, “You’ve done a heckuva job!”

The ad begins playing this week in 365,000 hotel rooms across the country. The spot is available for viewing at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBJpXS09Mdo. Text of the Campaign for America’s Future ad follows:

“THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES”
TV:30

AUDIO: [“Thanks for the memories” music.]

ON-SCREEN: [In old-style cursive script,]

“To the conservatives gathered in St. Paul: …”

“Thanks for the memories...”

[Old film format, dusty, scratchy and flickering.]

AUDIO: [Music lyrics, “…nothing in my purse … the chuckles when the preacher said, for better or for worse …”]

ON-SCREEN: ["Welcome to New Orleans" sign flooded by Hurricane Katrina.

Gas pump meter hitting record prices.

Foreclosure lawn sign in front of people’s homes.

"Mission Accomplished" banner on military ship.]

ON-SCREEN: “You've done a heckuva job!”

ON-SCREEN: [In bold, modern lettering,]

“WE’LL TAKE IT FROM HERE.”

ON-SCREEN: [Photos of people who work for a living – factory worker, doctor with toddler, servicemen, fire fighters, teacher with student … and public goods -- construction of windmills, bridges and homes.]

ON-SCREEN: “OURFUTURE.ORG”

“PAID FOR BY CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA’S FUTURE”

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**NOTE: An electronic copy of the ad is available at www.ourfuture.org. Media representatives interested in a DVD or beta copy of the ad should contact Jennifer Ettinger or Toby Chaudhuri at 202-955-5665 or jettinger@ourfuture.org. **

WAR ROOM OPERATION TO TRACK CHANGES IN ECONOMY; DELIVER TALKING POINTS AND SOLUTIONS

Toby Chaudhuri — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON – The Campaign for America’s Future launched an economic war room today to help frame the ongoing debate as the economy changes at an increasing pace and continues to get worse for millions of Americans. The operation will deliver daily poll-tested talking points to candidates, elected officials, talk show hosts, columnists, bloggers, labor leaders, activists and others, tying the latest research by think tanks like the EPI Policy Center to the latest opinion research by top strategists.

Campaign for America’s Future co-director Robert Borosage said the alerts will include a set of persuasive facts and arguments on key issues, linking to a comprehensive analysis of solutions to economic problems on people’s minds.

“The change in the economy has been abrupt and serious,” said Borosage. “Economic issues are obviously on everyone’s mind, so it’s important to understand what is happening and to have messages that can move people. Our effort provides real policy alternatives to the political messaging already out there.”

Democratic pollster Celinda Lake and Drew Westen, an Emory University professor who has studied the way Americans think about issues and make decisions, are advising Borosage on messages they have tested and measured for impact. Lake and Westen joined Borosage on a conference call with reporters today to launch the messaging project.

Lake said on today’s call that Americans are increasingly convinced the country is on the edge of a recession and that Washington is not responding adequately.

“Economic problems are creating deep discontent across America,” said Lake. “The American Dream is slipping away and people want leaders to focus on kitchen-table issues like jobs, education, health care, housing and retirement. They are to ready to support our ideas if we present our values and policy solutions in a compelling way.”

Westen said Americans, whether Democratic or Republican, are persuaded more by emotions and values than by a laundry list of issues so policy arguments must be linked to broader themes to connect with them.

“Progressives typically bombard people with a laundry list of issues and policy positions, while conservatives offer them emotionally compelling appeals, whether to their values or prejudices,” said Westen. “The war room is designed to change that.”

The need for the economic war room became clear when the Campaign for America’s Future met with dozens of elected officials and progressive leaders to discuss economic messaging. The group found that opinion leaders were better versed at political messages but less so on solutions and effective ways of communicating them. To fill that gap, more than 3,000 federal- and state-elected officials and 3,000 activists are already receiving alerts from the economic war room.

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**NOTE: Media representatives interested in more details about the economic war room should visit www.ourfuture.org/makingsense. Anyone interested in receiving real-time alerts, may do so by signing up on the website.**

SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION COULD FORCE THOUSANDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY INTO POVERTY

Toby Chaudhuri — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Social Security privatization, embraced by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would cut guaranteed benefits for thousands of future retirees by thousands of dollars, according to a new state-specific report released today by the research arm of the Campaign for America’s Future. Today’s report shows that more than 8.6 million older Americans would have a greater risk of falling into poverty, each losing more than $240,000 over the course of their lifetimes, by the time a privatization plan like the one supported by Sen. McCain and President Bush is fully implemented.

Campaign for America’s Future co-director Roger Hickey, whose organization has worked to defend and strengthen Social Security for more than a decade, said the popular program is at risk again.

“Social Security is very popular across the country, but its guaranteed benefits are in the national crossfire again,” said Hickey. “Sen. McCain has been very clear about his plans to push privatization again despite the public backlash President Bush faced when he pushed his scheme a few years ago. The conservative ideologues just won’t stop trying to privatize Social Security.”

48.5 million Americans depend on their earned Social Security benefit every month, according to the Social Security Administration. Thousands of businesses and state governments also depend on the program. More than $580.5 billion flows into the U.S. economy from Social Security each year.

Diverting a portion of payroll taxes into risky private accounts could force many people below the poverty line. More than 36.4 million Americans currently live in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. Meanwhile, 7.9 million individuals depend on their guaranteed Social Security benefits for 90 percent or more of their income. The average Social Security check for individual retirees is $1,088 per month; it takes $867 per month to stay above the federal poverty line. These Social Security recipients would be close to the edge and vulnerable to rising food, housing and energy costs.

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**NOTE: Media representatives interested in copies of today's state-specific Social Security reports should visit www.ourfuture.org/privatization. **

SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION
STATE-SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN

(State; number of beneficiaries; average Social Security benefit; statewide income from Social Security; number of people living in poverty; number of additional people who could be forced into poverty with privatization; total benefit that could be lost with privatization)

--Alabama; 934,000; $1,041; $10.5 billion; 742,000; 194,000; $162,000
--Alaska; 68,000; $1,031; $774.1 million; 70,000; 7,000; $249,000
--Arizona; 959,000; $1,102; $11.8 billion; 857,000; 130,000; $204,000
--Arkansas; 588,000; $1,013; $6.5 billion; 471,000; 107,000; $117,000
--California; 4,571,000; $1,076; $54.4 billion; 4,690,000; 970,000; $312,000
--Colorado; 616,000; $1,062; $7.3 billion; 556,000; 94,000; $262,000
--Connecticut; 592,000; $1,179; $7.8 billion; 280,000; 78,000; $391,000
--Delaware; 157,000; $1,143; $2 billion; 91,000; 17,000; $286,000
--Florida; 3,477,000; $1,074; $41.7 billion; 2,226,000; 668,000; $180,000
--Georgia; 1,305,000; $1,056; $15.1 billion; 1,333,000; 217,000; $229,000
--Hawaii; 207,000; $1,067; $2.5 billion; 116,000; 20,000; $184,000
--Idaho; 240,000; $1,054; $2.8 billion; 180,000; 51,000; $118,000
--Illinois; 1,921,000; $1,117; $23.8 billion; 1,539,000; 354,000; $286,000
--Indiana; 1,097,000; $1,135; $13.6 billion; 777,000; 145,000; $183,000
--Iowa; 558,000; $1,076; $6.7 billion; 316,000; 82,000; $140,000
--Kansas; 457,000; $1,104; $5.6 billion; 330,000; 87,000; $157,000
--Kentucky; 827,000; $1,024; $9.1 billion; 693,000; 143,000; $158,000
--Louisiana; 735,000; $1,007; $7.9 billion; 793,000; 192,000; $147,000
--Maine; 280,000; $1,000; $3.1 billion; 165,000; 62,000; $141,000
--Maryland; 786,000; $1,097; $9.6 billion; 428,000; 104,000; $282,000
--Massachusetts; 1,080,000; $1,087; $13 billion; 620,000; 179,000; $363,000
--Michigan; 1,802,000; $1,165; $22.9 billion; 1,331,000; 237,000; $264,000
--Minnesota; 814,000; $1,088; $9.9 billion; 491,000; 149,000; $254,000
--Mississippi; 559,000; $1,000; $6 billion; 592,000; 111,000; $96,000
--Missouri; 1,089,000; $1,063; $12.7 billion; 769,000; 202,000; $190,000
--Montana; 176,000; $1,027; $2 billion; 125,000; 38,000; $87,000
--Nebraska; 295,000; $1,062; $3.5 billion; 197,000; 59,000; $137,000
--Nevada; 362,000; $1,085; $4.4 billion; 253,000; 71,000; $203,000
--New Hampshire; 231,000; $1,114; $2.9 billion; 102,000; 39,000; $235,000
--New Jersey; 1,388,000; $1,190; $18.4 billion; 741,000; 154,000; $366,000
--New Mexico; 327,000; $1,010; $3.6 billion; 353,000; 70,000; $137,000
--New York; 3,097,000; $1,137; $38.8 billion; 2,662,000; 548,000; $383,000
--North Carolina; 1,587,000; $1,064; $18.6 billion; 1,261,000; 318,000; $184,000
--North Dakota; 116,000; $1,004; $1.3 billion; 69,000; 24,000; $95,000
--Ohio; 1,992,000; $1,090; $23.8 billion; 1,486,000; 332,000; $207,000
--Oklahoma; 657,000; $1,038; $7.5 billion; 587,000; 121,000; $125,000
--Oregon; 643,000; $1,087; $7.8 billion; 480,000; 105,000; $199,000
--Pennsylvania; 2,456,000; $1,111; $30.1 billion; 1,448,000; 379,000; $230,000
--Rhode Island; 193,000; $1,080; $2.3 billion; 114,000; 30,000; $215,000
--South Carolina; 822,000; $1,066; $9.6 billion; 656,000; 184,000; $145,000
--South Dakota; 144,000; $999; $1.6 billion; 102,000; 36,000; $92,000
--Tennessee; 1,139,000; $1,058; $13.1 billion; 952,000; 197,000; $182,000
--Texas; 3,102,000; $1,050; $35.4 billion; 3,868,000; 718,000; $236,000
--Utah; 290,000; $1,087; $3.5 billion; 265,000; 53,000; $154,000
--Vermont; 117,000; $1,075; $1.4 billion; 62,000; 19,000; $160,000
--Virginia; 1,180,000; $1,071; $13.9 billion; 708,000; 181,000; $250,000
--Washington; 982,000; $1,122; $12.2 billion; 736,000; 133,000; $265,000
--West Virginia; 424,000; $1,065; $4.9 billion; 307,000; 79,000; $125,000
--Wisconsin; 980,000; $1,108; $12.1 billion; 591,000; 169,000; $181,000
--Wyoming; 84,000; $1,075; $1 billion; 46,000; 18,000; $130,000

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THE RIGHT-WING BLOCK-AND-BLAME STRATEGY IS THE REAL STORY OF THE 110TH CONGRESS, REPORT SAYS

Toby Chaudhuri — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON – Republicans in Congress, working in concert with the White House, organized a deliberate political strategy to sabotage the Democratic majority in Congress as it responded to a mandate to solve major problems facing the nation, according to a new report released today by the Campaign for America’s Future. With the American public registering overwhelming disapproval of the job Congress is doing, the facts in today’s report show that Republicans are to blame.

Campaign for America’s Future co-director Robert Borosage said that the reputation of the Congress would be very different had the Republican minority and President Bush not orchestrated a systematic campaign of obstruction to bottle up any progress.

“Now this is sort of like knee-capping the postman and then complaining that the mail is late,” said Borosage. “As Republicans posture about the do-nothing Congress, it's worth remembering that much would have gotten done had they not been in the way.”

The report shows that the Republican strategy forced a record number of cloture votes — 94 so far — that require a super-majority of sixty votes to end filibusters. This was reinforced by more than 119 veto threats by President Bush, essentially repealing majority rule. Never before has an ideological minority obstructed so many important measures from becoming law.

If Republicans had not adopted this strategy, majorities in both the House and the Senate favored passage of the following:

--WAR IN IRAQ: Setting a date certain to bring the occupation of Iraq to an end, freeing up the $12 billion a month in direct costs (almost a half-billion dollars a day) for vital needs here at home, and insuring that soldiers are guaranteed adequate rest and recovery between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan;

--ENERGY: Investing billions in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, creating green-collar jobs, and paying for it by repealing subsidies for oil companies already pocketing the greatest profits in recorded history;

--HEALTH CARE: Providing health care for millions of children of working and poor families, giving them with a chance for a healthy start to life, and saving seniors tens of billions of dollars in prescription drug prices by empowering Medicare to negotiate bulk purchase discounts.

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

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

Toby Chaudhuri — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

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.

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**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%

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

Toby Chaudhuri — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400

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.

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**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.

McCAIN WOULD DRIVE UP HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR FAMILIES, WHILE BENEFITING HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES

Toby Chaudhuri — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON – Sen. John McCain’s health care plan would dismantle the employer-provided system that covers more than 60 percent of non-elderly Americans and drive up health care costs, according to experts responding to the announcement of his proposal today. An average family could see their health care costs as much as double under the McCain health care plan, according to an analysis by the Campaign for America’s Future.

Campaign for America’s Future co-director Roger Hickey, one of the leaders of a new coalition of groups working to fix the broken health care system, said that Sen. McCain’s plan would tax the health care premiums employers pay for their workers, encouraging most companies to stop providing any coverage. Hickey noted that instead of lowering costs, this would force millions of Americans to buy more expensive coverage with inadequate tax credits, greatly increasing the number of families who can’t afford quality care.

“John McCain’s plan must’ve been written by the insurance companies. It leaves them in more control of America’s health care system than ever before,” said Hickey. “John McCain wants us all to buy insurance not as part of a group – like an employee group or a co-op – that can negotiate for better coverage at lower premiums, but as individuals, at the mercy of the private insurance companies. It would leave millions of people with worse coverage, more chronic health problems and higher levels of health cost-driven bankruptcies.”

Most people, even those with good insurance, don’t get the health care they need, contributing to rising health costs. Sen. McCain, however, believes that the problem with health care is that Americans have too much insurance and that if consumers pay for it out of their own pockets, they will in turn force hospitals and insurance companies to become more efficient.

Dr. Jacob Hacker, a professor at Yale University and the author of the “Health Care for America” plan, which Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards used as the basis for their health care proposals, disagrees with McCain’s fundamental premise. Hacker said the real problem is rising health care costs and declining coverage.

“McCain’s proposal doesn’t address either of these problems in a serious way,” said Hacker. “The real problem for most Americans isn’t just less coverage. It’s that they risk losing coverage or they can’t get coverage when they’re unhealthy, particularly in the individual market. McCain’s proposal does nothing to provide that kind of broader health security.”

AFL-CIO political director Karen Ackerman joined Hickey and Hacker on a conference call with reporters today and announced details of a new campaign to explain the devastating effects of Sen. McCain’s health care plan to millions of voters nationwide. The AFL-CIO campaign will include a massive national canvass to 200,000 union households on Saturday, May 17.

“While those with pre-existing conditions simply will have an even harder time finding health care than they do now, insurance companies -- and John McCain’s friends who lobby for them -- stand to make a killing,” said Ackerman. “Working families need a fresh vision and new direction to turn around our country. So far, Sen. McCain has provided neither. We’re working hard to make sure Sen. McCain hears the voices of working families.”

In early March, the AFL-CIO launched a major effort to educate voters about Sen. McCain’s economic record and plans, pressuring him at every campaign event he holds, including this week’s health care events in Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio and Colorado. In the coming weeks, the AFL-CIO will focus on 13 million union voters in 23 battleground states, educating them on exactly who stands to benefit from Sen. McCain’s health care proposals, communicating with voters at the worksite, the doorstep, on the phone, through the mail and online.

# # #

HEALTH CARE COSTS BACKGROUND

$11,765	Average premium cost of the most popular employer-based plan last year [Kaiser Family Foundation]
$5,000	Tax credit for a family under the McCain plan [johnmccain.com]
$6,765	Average additional yearly cost per family under the McCain plan [Campaign for America’s Future]
$3,226	Average amount per worker employers paid for premiums last year [Kaiser Family Foundation]

State of the Union 2008

Toby Chaudhuri — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:22:00 -0500

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]

628,000 Americans Receive Pay Raise Today

Toby Chaudhuri — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON – More than 628,000 of the lowest paid hard-working Americans will be the first of 12.5 million workers to receive a pay raise this week due to the first increase in the federal minimum wage in nearly a decade, according to an analysis by the Campaign for America’s Future. When fully phased in, this increase will mean a pay hike for nearly one in every 10 workers, according to an analysis of the Current Population Survey by the Economic Policy Institute.

The federal minimum wage, which had been frozen at $5.15 an hour since 1997 and had lost 20 percent of its value, will rise to $5.85 an hour on Tuesday. Minimum wage workers will get an additional 70-cent pay increase each summer for the next 2 years, ending in 2009 at $7.25 an hour.

"This is but a first step," said Campaign for America’s Future co-director Robert Borosage, noting that Americans spent more than they earned last year for the first time since the Great Depression.

"American families are struggling to make ends meet. Health and education costs are exploding, and people are working longer hours just to keep their heads above water," said Borosage. "We need an economy that rewards work. Raising the minimum wage is an important first step to insuring that workers get a fair share of the profits and productivity that they help to generate."

# # #

Twenty states have a minimum wage at $5.15 that will increase to $5.85 today due to the first increase in the federal minimum wage in a decade. The remaining 30 states have minimum wages above $5.85 and therefore will not be affected by the first of the three increases in the minimum wage scheduled over the next 2 years.

State	Pre- July 24 Minimum Wage	Post July 24 Minimum Wage	Workers Affected by the $5.85 Increase	Total number of workers that will be affected when the minimum wage increase is fully implemented in 2009 at $7.25
United States	$5.15	$5.85	628,000	12,454,000
Alabama	$5.15	$5.85	43,000	350,000
Georgia	$5.15	$5.85	55,000	526,000
Idaho	$5.15	$5.85	13,000	106,000
Indiana	$5.15	$5.85	34,000	354,000
Kansas	$5.15	$5.85	23,000	240,000
Louisiana	$5.15	$5.85	33,000	366,000
Mississippi	$5.15	$5.85	19,000	202,000
Nebraska	$5.15	$5.85	15,000	136,000
New Hampshire	$5.15	$5.85	8,000	19,000
North Dakota	$5.15	$5.85	6,000	48,000
New Mexico	$5.15	$5.85	16,000	*
Oklahoma	$5.15	$5.85	30,000	245,000
South Dakota	$5.15	$5.85	6,000	65,000
South Carolina	$5.15	$5.85	33,000	325,000
Tennessee	$5.15	$5.85	49,000	350,000
Texas	$5.15	$5.85	173,000	1,771,000
Vermont	$5.15	$5.85	3,000	*
West Virginia	$5.15	$5.85	14,000	133,000
Virginia	$5.15	$5.85	51,000	449,000
Wyoming	$5.15	$5.85	4,000	39,000

* Insufficient data to make estimate