Skelton Meets With Labor Secretary

Congressman Ike Skelton recently met with U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to discuss the unemployment rate in the 4th Congressional District.

"We talked about a number of matters during the meeting. But, I was particularly eager to share my concerns about the high unemployment rate in the Fourth District and to discuss how we can boost jobs and job training in rural Missouri. It is vital that we prepare our workforce to compete and succeed in the 21st century global economy," said Skelton in a statement.

"While last week’s report indicating 12,000 jobs were saved or created by the Recovery Act in the Fourth District is welcome news, more work remains. I am hopeful that the Secretary will take seriously my concerns and will share them with her colleagues in the Administration," he added, without getting into specifics.
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MEANWHILE: The U.S. Senate voted to give the unemployed up to 20 weeks of additional unemployment benefits and expand the home buyers tax credit program.

Sen. Kit Bond's communications maestro notes that Sen. Kit Bond supports extending unemployment benefits but objected to the homebuyer tax credit extension.

"I object to including an expansion of the homebuyer tax credit program in the bill, which comes at a high cost to taxpayers, has been ripe with fraud and abuse, and runs the risk of recreating another housing crisis," Bond said.