Unions push for second stimulus

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - It’s been a year since the federal stimulus bill was passed, and it it estimated that just half of it has actually been spent. But there’s a plea by some groups in Connecticut for a second stimulus, for fear thousands of public sector jobs may be lost.

Who’s asking are the leaders of the unions that represent thousands of police, fire, and school teachers across the state, because the latest economic prediction is that Connecticut may not recover until 2015.

Right now, state and local government in Connecticut is being propped up by several billion dollars in federal stimulus money, and it’s still running in the red.

Track the stimulus money being spent in Connecticut

“We simply will not be able to balance our budget without it next year,” Rep. Denise Merrill, D-Majority Leader, said.

Rep. Merrill joined union leaders Thursday to urge residents to urge federal lawmakers to approve a second stimulus bill as soon as possible.

“State and local governments facing unprecedented budget shortfalls are putting vital public services and jobs on the chopping block at a time when they are needed most,” Sal Luciano from AFSCME Council 4 said.

Many jobs in the fire service were saved because of money from the first stimulus. Stimulus money also helped to save many jobs in the local police services. It also helped to save jobs in local school systems, which could soon be on the line when the first stimulus runs out.

“Whenever public education, there’s a setback in public education, it has a ripple affect throughout the economy in the area of unemployment and it takes a long time for us to come back,” Mark Waxenberg of the Connecticut Education Association said.

And the sobering economic prediction this week is that Connecticut may not start seeing any job growth for five long years.

“At this time of crisis, we need public services now more than ever, we are here today to push for federal assistance to help get us back on track,” John Olsen from the Connecticut AFL-CIO said.

But in the Congress there is reluctance even among those who would vote for a second stimulus.

“My answer is yes, but we have to be careful that we don’t just throw money at the problem because we’ve got another national problem which can send our economy reeling and that is an enormous national debt,” Sen. Joseph Lieberman said.

Sen. Lieberman said the Senate will be considering several proposals when they go back to work next week, including tax credits for businesses that hire out of work people. But the reluctance will continue until all of the first stimulus is spent, which could take the rest of this year.