plus 1, Carly Fiorina widens lead over Barbara Boxer: All about jobs? - The Christian Science Monitor

Carly Fiorina widens lead over Barbara Boxer: All about jobs? - The Christian Science Monitor

Posted: 15 Aug 2010 04:53 PM PDT

The California Senate race could hinge on perceptions of how Carly Fiorina and Barbara Boxer will approach the economy and job creation.

Los Angeles

Sen. Barbara Boxer is losing ground to challenger Carly Fiorina in the race for California's Senate seat, which is considered key to both political parties.

Fiorina showed a five-point lead (47 percent to 42 percent) in a SurveyUSA poll released Aug. 12. The poll surveyed 602 likely California voters between Aug. 9 and Aug. 11 and had a margin of error of 4.1 percent.

"The 2010 California Senate race is very important nationally," says Carleton College political scientist Steven Schier. "If the GOP is to gain control of the Senate, they must win the California Senate race."

Because economic concerns lead the list of voter issues, Senator Boxer and Ms. Fiorina have been parrying over their plans to create jobs in the struggling state. Fiorina has accused Boxer of supporting "job killing" taxes and regulations by allowing Bush tax cuts to expire. And she has said recent small business legislation co-sponsored by Boxer "has done nothing to make it easier for small businesses or family owned businesses."

Boxer counters that she has introduced legislation that would establish the Working Capital Express program – a new lending initiative that would encourage banks to extend more credit to small businesses. The US Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday endorsed Fiorina last week.

"Fiorina's message may be resonating with voters," says Jessica Levinson, an analyst with the Center for Governmental Studies. "She has styled herself as a savvy businesswoman with real-world experience who can help improve the economy and create jobs," she says, noting that a July poll by the same organization showed her lead at two percent.

"The job creation issue will clearly separate Boxer and Fiorina," says Schier. "Boxer will likely argue for the effectiveness of the 2009 stimulus spending and urge more such spending to resuscitate the economy. Fiorina will brand the stimulus a mistake and argue for tax cuts and deficit reduction as a means to restoring jobs."

As the jobs battle rages, one California columnist has criticized both campaigns. "We should remember that one senator has almost nothing to do with national economic policy," writes Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee. "All of this blather about jobs and the economy is a political con game, and we'd be fools to fall for it."

Other political analysts disagree with that assessment.

"Any candidate who fails to address the unemployment problem in California is politically tone deaf," says Ms. Levinson.

"It is a relevant discussion for Boxer and Fiorina," says Steve Levy, president of the California Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy. "They are Senate candidates, and national policymakers do have tools and choices about both short-term and long-term strategies for growth and prosperity," he says.

Boxer and Fiorina are mirroring the national partisan debate over Bush economics and what Obama is doing, says Mr. Levy.

"Should we extend the tax cuts or do more stimulus spending? How can we fight recessions and still bring down the deficit? These are good Senate questions," he says.

The debate may be less about specific proposals than a fight over blame, says Claremont McKenna College Jack Pitney.

"Fiorina says that Obama policies have failed, Boxer points the finger at Bush," he says. "Fiorina paints Boxer as part of the political establishment that caused the mess. Boxer paints Fiorina as part of a corporate establishment that ships jobs overseas."

Boxer is chasing her third election to the Senate since 1992 after five terms in the US House. Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard, is making her first run for political office.

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Government of Canada Helps Moose Jaw Youth Prepare for Jobs - Newsblaze.com

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 09:40 AM PDT

Published: August 24, 2010

MOOSE JAW, SASKATCHEWAN - (Marketwire - Aug. 24, 2010) - Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada's support for an employment project. Mr. Ray Boughen, Member of Parliament for Palliser, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"In today's environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market," said Mr. Boughen. "By supporting this project, we are helping Moose Jaw youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential."

The Five Hills Regional Health Authority will receive $238,098 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Transitions to Employment project, which will help 50 youth facing employment barriers develop life and job skills to ease their transition to work or return to school.

"The Five Hills Health Region values this significant financial support from the Government of Canada," said Mr. Terry Hutchinson, Executive Director, Mental Health and Addictions Services, Five Hills Health Region. "Together, we give hope to many young people in our communities who seek our help to enter the workforce or return to school."

"Successfully engaging youth in the labour market is essential to maintaining Saskatchewan's economic prosperity and developing a skilled workforce for the future" said Warren Michelson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moose Jaw North on behalf of Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration. "The province is pleased to partner in this program to provide vital assistance to young people who are experiencing employment barriers."

The federal government is working with the provinces and territories, community organizations and other stakeholders to provide Canadians with the training, skills and opportunities they need to get jobs and contribute to their communities.

Through the 2010 "Jobs and Growth Budget," the Government of Canada committed an additional $60 million to the Skills Link and Career Focus programs. This additional one-time investment will enable more young Canadians to gain the experience and skills they need to successfully participate in the labour market while the economy recovers.

Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada's strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The Government underscored its commitment to this strategy in Canada's Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

The Skills Link program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1 800 O-Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Backgrounder

The Five Hills Regional Health Authority provides health services in Moose Jaw and other south-central communities in Saskatchewan, with a mission to educate and provide quality services that help people make healthy choices. Through the Transitions to Employment project, the organization will provide youth with personalized action plans and one-on-one sessions to monitor their progress. The participants will take part in employability workshops, on topics such as personal management and teamwork skills, to assist them in obtaining and maintaining employment.

As part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, the Skills Link program is one of three programs that help young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The other two programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.

Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school. It offers a client-centred approach based on assessing an individual's specific needs. The program supports youth in developing basic and advanced employment skills. Eligible participants between 15 and 30 years of age-who are not receiving Employment Insurance benefits-are assisted through a coordinated approach, offering longer-term supports and services that can help them find and keep a job. 819-994-5559

Tags: ,Government,State,POLITICS