Nashville, Tennessee, July 22, 2008 – Daniel Lewis, the Libertarian Party of Tennessee’s candidate for United States Senate, recognizes the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act (H.R.4048), for what it is yet another boondoggle.
The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act establishes the Gulf Coast Recovery Authority to administer a Gulf Coast Civic Works Project. According to The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project’s web site (Link...) the civic work jobs will be in the areas of construction and the arts (e.g., plumbing, electrical, brick building, construction, air conditioning, as well as music, murals, theater and dance.) The project will provide paid apprenticeships for unskilled workers. Civic jobs will pay no less than $15/hour and workers will have the right to join unions. A Gulf Coast Authority, similar to the Tennessee Valley Authority will oversee the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project. The program will cost an estimated at $4 billion a year and, will come from federal, state, and private sources (e.g., insurance companies). Private sources will be asked to contribute $1 billion a year.
A much wiser move would be for the government to remove regulatory roadblocks and offer tax incentives for rebuilding along the gulf cost. The minimum wage of $15/hour set by the program will cause ramped unemployment among those who complete training. The strain on the already fragile Gulf Coast and national economy could be disastrous. The aftermath of passing this act could be worse than the damages caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. History shows that the Civic Works Projects of the New Deal, plagued with high costs and inefficiency, prolonged the Great Depression.
For additional information on Daniel Lewis Libertarian Candidacy for the United States Senate contact Daniel Lewis for United States Senate or visit Link.... The candidate authorizes images of the candidate found at Link... to be used by the media in articles. - END -