Date: May 30, 2003
Contact: Laura C.O’Neill (202) 225-6161 
Linda Macias (202) 225-6161

NEWS RELEASE...
 

Baca Speaks Out for Unemployed Workers in California
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Joe Baca (D-Rialto) today announced his disappointment that the number of unemployed workers in California continued to rise during the month of April.  

“California currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation at 6.7% and that number rose by 1% in April alone. We are being hit hard,” Baca said. “But we are not alone in our hardship. The numbers in 47 states went up last month.” 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 48,000 were lost nationwide in April alone and over 2.7 million private sector jobs have been lost since the President was inaugurated. 

“We passed this enormous tax cut while thousands of people are losing their jobs,” Baca said. “This is incredibly irresponsible.  We need to focus on legislation that will create jobs.” 

The nationwide unemployment rate is currently at 6.0%.  The last time the unemployment rate was higher was July 1994. Baca opposed the President’s recent tax cuts and instead supported the House Democratic substitution.  

The substitution would have created 1 million jobs this year by providing tax cuts to middle-income Americans and small businesses. It would also have provided more funding to states to assist with unemployment roles and transportation projects.  

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