78-08-B5

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New Talk from a Labor Leader

Transcript Jerry Wurf is President of the nation's largest union of public employees, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal employees. He has long been a leading liberal in national politics, and was an important campaign ally for President Carter in 1976. But now some of the advice Mr. Wurf is giving Mr. Carter sounds a lot like what Republicans have been saying for quite a while. For several years now liberals in Congress have urged that the government become the "employer of last resort". That philosophy was predominant among supporters of the Humphrey-Hawkins bill. Apparently, though, Jerry Wurf is not among them, at least: not any longer. Recently, he told the National Press Club -- QUOTE--" I reject the concept of government as the employer of last resort. This theory is a sure and proven loser." UNQUOTE-- "The availability of private sector jobs is a prerequisite for the health of American cities as well as the foundation of a prosperous American society ... Private sector employment must be the linchpin of true urban recovery--and incentives for private investment are the key to a workable program of urban progress. And, Mr. Wurf continued, --QUOTE--"By and large, we have taken a ward-of-the-state approach to solving the urban crisis. If we choose, we can continue to follow that course ... That kind of system may keep the cities breathing. But there will be no life there, no vitality, no share in the commerce, pride, and dignity of our national community. The long range solution demands more. It demands the revival of self-sufficiency in our once great urban centers. Private investors have abandoned the cities in droves, taking jobs and opportunities with them. Government policy has encouraged and rewarded this trend. It is a trend which must be diverted. That is why the stimulation of commerce, industry, jobs, and a reasonable safe, environment in the hardship cities is crucial to urban recovery."--UNQUOTE. Labor leader Jerry Wurf goes on to recommend several key elements to revitalizing older cities. Significantly, the first is not higher pay raises and benefits for his own union members. It is, he says, --QUOTE--"federal tax policies capable of encouraging private, job-producing investments."--UNQUOTE-- No one could take issue with some of the elements of Mr. Wurf's program, both as to the cost of the taxpayer, and Washington's increased power over the cities. But in his basis analysis, I'd say Jerry Wurf is right on the mark. The vitality of our cities does depend on their ability to attract job-creating private investment. The federal governments policies on the other hand have helped to discourage that investment. Let's hope that Jerry Wurf's analysis hits home with his friends at the White House. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 78-08-B5 Production Date 06/05/1978 Book/Page Online PDF Audio Youtube? No
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