After only Three Months in Office, President’s Policies Are Helping Turn Things Around

Des Moines, IA – Michael Kiernan, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, was joined at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Ankeny Campus by Dean of Industry and Technology, Scott Ocken in a 2:00 p.m. event today. During the event, Kiernan called attention to the jobs saved and created in Iowa through infrastructure and construction projects made possible by the economic recovery package. The event recognized the early accomplishments of President Obama’s Administration and focused on upcoming efforts by the President and Congressional Democrats to move forward the Administration’s agenda on health care reform, a new comprehensive energy policy and education.

Following the event, State Party Chair Michael Kiernan issued the following statement:

“This stimulus package will be creating up to 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, 37,000 of which will be here in Iowa. We have seen significant investments in infrastructure, construction projects, housing, and public safety projects to help create these jobs,” said Kiernan.

Of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Dean Scott Ocken said:

“This bill not only helped prevent personnel cuts and program cuts at DMACC and other schools, but has provided significant resources that will go toward making sure that Iowans are trained for these jobs that will be coming because of the stimulus spending, and so our economy can continue to grow and Iowa can be a leader as it has been.”

Since his inauguration, President Obama has:

1. Passed an economic recovery package that gives a tax cut to 95 percent of Americans and will save or create three to four million jobs across the country in the next two years, including 37,000 right here in Iowa.
2. He signed a law that makes it illegal for men and women to be paid differently for the same job, which means parents in Iowa will finally receive equal pay for equal work.
3. He put responsible science and technological innovation ahead of ideology by lifting the ban on federal funding for potentially life-saving stem cell research.
4. He passed legislation to enhance the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and expand coverage to an additional 4 million children, bringing to 11 million the number of children covered under SCHIP.
5. Worked with Democrats in Congress to pass a budget blueprint that invests in America’s future by making bold investments in healthcare, education and renewable energy.