Quite a lot, suggest Senators Chuck Schumer and Martin Heinrich. This week they introduced a bill that would direct the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which produces estimates of gross domestic product, to produce estimates telling us who benefits from growth — for example, how much is going to the middle class. This is a really good idea.
Aug 28 2018
Politicus USA - Senate Democrats Introduce Bill That Pops Trump’s Economic Propaganda Bubble
As Sen. Heinrich said, “Instead of focusing on one economic indicator closely watched by investors, we should be examining data that captures why many families are still struggling to make ends meet. Only looking at headline GDP growth numbers to assess the state of our economy simply does not paint the whole picture, and leaves out the reality that many Americans have not seen their wages rise for years. Our priority should be ensuring that every New Mexican – and every American – can succeed in today’s economy. This legislation would provide Congress with the information to take real steps needed to finally address income inequality and the economic needs of all Americans.”
Aug 28 2018
Vox - Senate Democrats want the government to say if GDP growth is helping the middle class
But those gaps don’t show up in official measurements like the GDP, which measures growth in the overall economy. Now Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Martin Heinrich are trying to change that. On Tuesday they are introducing a new bill that seeks to shed light on how economic growth in the United States is shaking out for individual Americans.
The idea, they say, is to shed light on where economic prosperity is showing up across different income groups — and, potentially, where it’s not. The bill, the Measuring Real Income Growth Act of 2018, would require the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which releases quarterly GDP numbers, to also report how growth is distributed along the income scale. The bureau would have to put together distributional measures of economic growth to be released with quarterly and annual GDP reports starting in 2020, laying out how growth shows up across each decile of earners and the top 1 percent.
The idea, they say, is to shed light on where economic prosperity is showing up across different income groups — and, potentially, where it’s not. The bill, the Measuring Real Income Growth Act of 2018, would require the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which releases quarterly GDP numbers, to also report how growth is distributed along the income scale. The bureau would have to put together distributional measures of economic growth to be released with quarterly and annual GDP reports starting in 2020, laying out how growth shows up across each decile of earners and the top 1 percent.
Aug 28 2018
Schumer, Heinrich Introduce Legislation to Require New Income Growth Data Alongside Quarterly GDP Reports
Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, introduced the Measuring Real Income Growth Act of 2018, which would require the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to report how economic growth is distributed across the income spectrum. This data would help to put quarterly GDP growth numbers in context, as it would provide a breakdown of the economic benefits seen by individuals across different segments of the economy. In short, this bill would provide policymakers with metrics that better reflect the economic experiences of all Americans, not just top income earners.
Today, Joint Economic Committee Democrats launched the seventh episode of “Opportunity Agenda,” a podcast that furthers the conversation on how to build an economic future where all American families have a fair shot at getting ahead. Episode 7, “Examining What’s at Stake With the CFPB,” looks at the actions that the Trump administration have taken at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that are harming consumers, instead of protecting them as the agency is charged to do. The podcast comes ahead of today’s Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing on the president’s nominee for CFPB director, Kathy Kraninger.
"People always ask, ‘Are we better off than we were two years ago?’ And the answer is yes."… "When I talk to people, they say they are not feeling the economic prosperity," said Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the top Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee. “Americans are not seeing the wage growth that they were promised from the tax cuts."
Aug 03 2018
Newsweek - Trump’s Tax Plan is Failing to Give American Workers the Wage Growth he Promised
Friday’s jobs report showed unemployment at 3.9 percent, an 18-year low. But even with historic lows, workers' pay has only increased by 2.7 percent since last year. With inflation hovering around 2 percent, that’s an adjusted 0.7 percent growth in earnings. A wage earner would have to bring in more than $570,000 to see that promised $4,000 increase in pay. Instead, the average worker is seeing a weekly pay raise of just $16.42. “This jobs report provides the latest evidence that the Republican tax law has done little to raise real wages in this country,” said Senator Martin Heinrich, ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, in a statement.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro held a press conference Thursday to release a report outlining the effects of the Republican Tax Law. The report was prepared by the Democratic staff of the Joint Economic Committee. She used the report to highlight how the law is impacting Connecticut's working families and seniors. It details how the $2 trillion in tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations come at the expense of Republican budget cuts to programs including Medicare, Medicaid, social security and the Affordable Care Act.
Aug 03 2018
Heinrich Statement on July Jobs Report
“We need to focus on why American families are struggling to get ahead and address those needs. Connecting communities to broadband, making post-secondary education more accessible and affordable, and ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality health care. That’s what we should be focused on. Instead of handing out additional tax cuts to those who need it the least, let’s get to work to address the real needs of American families across the country.”