After Four Years Of Obama, Voters Across The Country Aren’t Better Off

After Four Years Of Obama, Voters Across The Country Aren’t Better Off

_____________________________________________________________________

FOUR YEARS AGO IN LEESBURG, VIRGINIA, OBAMA ASKED IF VOTERS WERE “BETTER OFF”

Obama: “At This Rate, The Question Isn’t Just Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago; It’s Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Weeks Ago?” “It’s harder and harder to make the mortgage or fill up your gas tank, or even keep the electricity on at the end of the month. At this rate, the question isn’t just are you better off than you were four years ago; it’s are you better off than you were four weeks ago?” (Barack Obama, Remarks At A Rally In Leesburg, Virginia, 10/22/08)

As Obama Campaigns For Reelection Four Years Later, Voters Aren’t Better Off

The Associated Press : “U.S. Employers Added Only 80,000 Jobs In June, A Third Straight Month Of Weak Hiring That Shows The Economy Is Struggling.” (Christopher S. Rugaber, “US Employers Add 80,000 Jobs As Economy Struggles,” The Associated Press , 7/6/12)

CNBC’S John Harwood: “That Makes The Second Quarter The Weakest Job Adding Quarter In Two Years, An Average Of 75,000 Jobs Added In The Second Quarter Of This Year.” CNBC’SJOHN HARWOOD: “Just 80,000 jobs added in the month of June, Michelle, 8.2% unemployment rate, unchanged, 12.7 million unemployed people, also unchanged, that makes the second quarter the weakest job adding quarter in two years, an average of 75,000 jobs added in the second quarter of this year, compared to 226,000 in the first quarter, hours worked up 0.1%, hourly wages up six cents an hour, labor force participation rate is unchanged at 63.8%, revisions for April and May, April was down 9,000, May was up 8,000, so on net just a 1,000-job change.” (CNBC’s ” Squawk Box,” 7/6/12)

• Harwood: “A Very Disappointing Report For The Obama Administration And Of Course For The Country And People Who Are Unemployed.” “So guys, a very disappointing report for the Obama administration and of course for the country and people who are unemployed.” (CNBC’s ” Squawk Box,” 7/6/12)

Since President Obama Took Office, The Nation Has Lost 473,000 Jobs And The Unemployment Rate Has Increased From 7.8 Percent To 8.2 Percent. ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 8/1/12)

• Including 1,049,000 Construction Jobs, And 590,000 Manufacturing Jobs. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 8/1/12))

The Unemployment Rate Has Remained Above Eight Percent For A Record 41 Straight Months. ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 8/1/12)

• Congressional Budget Office: Unemployment Has Remained Above Eight Percent For The Longest Stretch Since The Great Depression. “The rate of unemployment in the United States has exceeded 8 percent since February 2009, making the past three years the longest stretch of high unemployment in this country since the Great Depression.”(“Understanding And Responding To Persistently High Unemployment,” Congressional Budget Office, 2/16/12)

Since Obama Took Office, The Average Duration Of Unemployment Has More Than Doubled From 19.8 Weeks To 39.9 Weeks. ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 8/1/12)

• There Are Currently 821,000 Unemployed Workers That Have Given Up Looking For Work. ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 8/1/12)
• The Real Unemployment Rate, Including Those That Are Working Part-Time Due To Economic Reasons, Is 14.9 Percent. ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 8/1/12)

There Are Currently 12.7 Million Unemployed Workers . ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 8/1/12)

• There Are Currently 8.2 Million Workers Working Part-Time For Economic Reasons. ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 7/6/12)

VOTERS IN VIRGINIA AND FLORIDA HAVE A MESSAGE FOR OBAMA: IT DIDN’TWORK

Obama Didn’t Work For Virginia’s Energy Production

American Electric Power Will Close Two Appalachian Power Plants In Virginia, Blaming EPA Regulations. “Appalachian operates two coal-fired power plants in Virginia. Mallan said that the tailoring rule, as well as other proposed regulations, could negatively affect rates, permitting processes and company profits. He said some changes could potentially mean the shuttering of the plants in Giles and Washington counties and a sharp uptick in customers’ bills.” (Annie Johnson, “Seeking Clarity On Pollution Rules,” Blue Ridge Business Journal, 1/20/12)

• AEP Plans To Close A Unit At Clinch River And Completely Shut Down Its Glen Lyn Plant. “About 500,000 tons of coals a year are burned at the Clinch River plant, an aging Appalachian Power Co. facility that has been producing electricity since Dwight Eisenhower occupied the White House. The fate of this 53-year-old power plant, and others like it across the country, could soon be determined by new regulations proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. … American Electric Power Co., the parent company of Appalachian, says the rules would force it to shut one unit at the Clinch River plant and convert the remaining two to burn natural gas instead of coal. The second coal-burning facility that Appalachian runs in Southwest Virginia, the Glen Lyn plant in Giles County, would be shut down completely by 2014.” (Laurence Hammack, “Power Or poison? EPA Rules Could Limit Coal-Fueled Plants’ Emissions,” Roanoke Times, 10/9/11)

• The Closures Will Increase Electricity Rates From 10-15 Percent And Cost 80 Area Jobs. “The closures and conversions could mean a 10 percent to 15 percent increase in electricity rates, Appalachian has said – adding another twist to the conflict between coal and clean air. … About 80 power plant jobs would be lost to the regulations in the 9^th District.” (Laurence Hammack, “Power Or poison? EPA Rules Could Limit Coal-Fueled Plants’ Emissions,” Roanoke Times, 10/9/11)

Virginia State Sen. Phillip Puckett (D-Lebanon): “It’s Very Clear To Me That The Administration Does Not Support The Coal Industry In A Way That’s Beneficial To Our Area. So, I Don’t Plan To Support President Obama For Re-Election.” (George Jackson, “VA Sen. Phillip Puckett Says He Will Not Support Obama In 2012,” WJHL, 9/22/11)

• Puckett: “He Doesn’t Listen To Me, And Quite Frankly He Wasn’t My Choice For The Democratic Nomination.” (George Jackson, “VA Sen. Phillip Puckett Says He Will Not Support Obama In 2012,” WJHL, 9/22/11)

Obama’s Interior Department Excluded Virginia From New Leases To Be Opened For Offshore Energy Exploration. “The 15 scheduled potential lease sales contained in the plan will occur in six planning areas – the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico, the portion of the Eastern Gulf Of Mexico not currently under Congressional moratorium, and the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea and Cook Inlet Planning Areas offshore Alaska.” (Press Release, “Interior Finalizes Plan To Make All highest-Resource Areas In The U.S. Offshore Available For Oil And Gas Leasing,” Department Of The Interior , 6/28/12)

Obama Blocked Virginia From Offshore Drilling “Until At Least 2017.” “The plan announced Thursday postpones drilling off Virginia’s coast until at least 2017.” (Anita Kumar, “Virginia Politicians Complain About exclusion In Offshore Drilling Pan,” The Washington Post , 6/28/12)

• Offshore Drilling Off Virginia’s Coast Would Create Approximately 1,900 Jobs, Add $365 Million Annually To The GDP, And Generate Nearly $20 Billion In Additional Revenue. “By going forward with offshore Atlantic oil and gas leasing and with Virginia participating in the development of offshore Atlantic resources, a recent report estimates that the state’s activity could: Create approximately 1,900 new jobs in Virginia; Add $365 million annually to the Gross Domestic Product; and Generate almost $19.5 billion in government revenues at all levels of government (federal, state and local).” (“Potential Job Creation, Economic Benefits And Revenue Sharing From Oil And Natural Gas Production And Exploration In Virginia,” Southeast Energy Alliance, 10/14/10)

Virginia Democrats Are Sponsoring Legislation That Would Reverse Obama’s Decision To Exclude Virginia

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) Called Obama’s Decision “Disappointing, Because The Safe, Responsible Development Of Offshore Energy Resources Has Broad Support From Virginians And Among The Bipartisan Elected Leadership Of The State.” WARNER: “This is disappointing, because the safe, responsible development of offshore energy resources has broad support from Virginians and among the bipartisan elected leadership of the state. … I will be strongly urging the administration to take another look at including Virginia in its five-year plan.” (“Virginia Left Out Of Offshore Drilling” The Fredericksburg Free Lance Star’s “On Politics” Blog , 11/8/11)

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA): “I Regret That The Administration Failed To Include Virginia In Its Proposed Final Five-Year Lease Plan.” WEBB: “I regret that the administration failed to include Virginia in its proposed final five-year lease plan. … Energy exploration and subsequent production within the Virginia Outer Continental Shelf – if coupled with an equitable formula for sharing revenues between the state and federal governments – would boost domestic energy production, while benefiting the Commonwealth’s economy.” (“Leaders Respond To Drilling Decision,” Augusta Free Press, 6/28/12)

• Sens. Webb And Warner Are Co-Sponsoring Legislation That Would Open Energy Production Off The Coast Of Virginia. “Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner, both Democrats, are co-sponsoring legislation that would open energy production off the coast of Virginia. The Offshore Petroleum Expansion Now Act of 2012, or OPEN Act, would replace the current five-year leasing plan, which excludes Virginia, and provide revenue sharing to all participating coastal states.” (Wesley P. Hester, “Webb, Warner Co-Sponsor Bill On Offshore Energy Production,” Richmond Times-Dispatch , 7/31/12)

Obama Didn’t Work For Florida Homeowners

In The First Quarter Of 2012, Florida Had The Second Highest Negative Equity Percentage In The Nation, With 45 Percent Of All Mortgaged Homes Underwater.“Nevada had the highest negative equity percentage with 61 percent of all mortgaged properties underwater, followed by Florida (45 percent), Arizona (43 percent), Georgia (37 percent) and Michigan (35 percent).” (Press Release, “CoreLogic Reports Negative Equity Decreases In First Quarter Of 2012, CoreLogic, 7/12/12)

• Florida Foreclosure Activity Increased In The First Half Of 2012 From The First Half Of 2011 By 23 Percent. “First-half foreclosure activity did increase from a year ago in 20 states, including Indiana (32 percent), Pennsylvania (24 percent), South Carolina (23 percent), Connecticut (23 percent), Florida (23 percent), and Illinois (22 percent).” (Press Release, “1 Million Properties With Foreclosure Filings In First Half Of 2012,” RealtyTrac , 7/12/12)
• In The First Half Of 2012, Florida Had The Nation’s Fifth Highest Foreclosure Rate, With 1.55 Percent Of Housing Units Posting A Foreclosure Filing.“California registered the nation’s fourth highest state foreclosure rate in the first half of 2012, with 1.56 percent of housing units with a foreclosure filing, and Florida registered the nation’s fifth highest state foreclosure rate, with 1.55 percent of housing units with a foreclosure filing.” (Press Release, “1 Million Properties With Foreclosure Filings In First Half Of 2012,” RealtyTrac , 7/12/12)

Obama Didn’t Work For Florida Hispanic Homeowners

The Obama Campaign Is “Facing A Different Kind Of Foreclosure Problem On The Streets Of Florida And Other Battleground States, Where Evictions Have Left Holes In Its Voter Lists.” “As Obama confronts a housing crisis that he’s acknowledged underestimating, his campaign is facing a different kind of foreclosure problem on the streets of Florida and other battleground states, where evictions have left holes in its voter lists.” (Hans Nichols, “Obama Campaign Detectives Hunt For Foreclosed Florida Voters,”Bloomberg, 7/18/12)

• The Obama Campaign Is Knocking On Doors In Hispanic Neighborhoods With Foreclosure Rates As High As 30 Percent, “Where Once-Registered Democrats Have Been Evicted, Their Homes Now Owned By The Bank.” “By day, Lynnette Acosta, a 34-year- old mother of two, is an information-technology manager in Orlando, Florida. By night, she’s a sleuth for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, scouring for potential voters. In central Florida, that means knocking on doors in Hispanic neighborhoods with foreclosure rates as high as 30 percent, where once-registered Democrats have been evicted, their homes now owned by the bank. Volunteers walk house-to- house to determine the number of empty homes per precinct, then look for contact information for voters who once lived in them.” (Hans Nichols, “Obama Campaign Detectives Hunt For Foreclosed Florida Voters,”Bloomberg, 7/18/12)

According To Darren Soto, A Florida Democrat State Representative, Convincing Hispanics In Central Florida That Obama’s Housing Policies Are Working “Is A Daunting Task.” “‘At least in central Florida, he’s got to be at least 66, 67, 68 percent,’ among non-Cuban Hispanics, said Darren Soto, a Democratic state representative whose district includes parts of Osceola County, where the Puerto Rican population increased 138 percent in the last 10 years, according to U.S. Census data. …Convincing Hispanics in central Florida that his housing prescriptions are working is a ‘daunting task,’ said Soto, who campaigned with Obama in 2008. ‘He’s not quite yet there.’” (Hans Nichols, “Obama Campaign Detectives Hunt For Foreclosed Florida Voters,” Bloomberg, 7/18/12)