Editorial: Laid-off workers are still in need of help
Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002 | 8:24 a.m.
Recently there has been some good news on the economic front. Last Friday the federal government reported that for the month of November, consumer confidence was up, home sales increased and orders for big-ticket items showed big gains. And while the markets tumbled during 2001, they have rallied since Sept. 21, with the Dow Jones industrial average increasing 23 percent since its low point following the terrorist attacks.
Despite the good news, there's one economic factor that shouldn't go ignored as the new year starts: unemployment. The national unemployment rate jumped in November to 5.7 percent, its highest level in six years. In Nevada, unemployment stood at 6.5 percent, its highest rate in seven years.
So when Congress comes back this month, it should construct an economic stimulus package that provides businesses with the right incentives so that they hire back more employees; measures that are just corporate giveaways, and won't spur job creation, should be dismissed. Any economic stimulus package also should increase unemployment benefits and offer health insurance coverage for laid-off workers -- the kind of support that workers will need until a true recovery is under way.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Binion’s to close all 365 rooms, lay off 100 workers
- Ex-NBA star to pay $12,835 monthly in gambling debt case
- Report: 70 percent of homeowners underwater
- Scuffle in pub parking lot leads to attorney’s arrest
- Rebels enter hoops rankings at No. 24
- Palin craze puzzling, given ’08 disaster
- The ins and outs of CityCenter traffic
- Harrah’s moves ahead with Planet Hollywood deal
- Man arrested for DUI after crashing into high school’s wall
- Despite few points, inspiration keeps ‘Chop’ high on plus-minus list
Blogs
The Kats Report
Dissimilar landmarks -- Binion's and CityCenter -- reflect today's Las Vegas
High School Sports Scene
Prep Football: State Championship
Elsewhere
UFC debut in Boston likely July or August (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
Planet Hollywood's Thomas McCartney headed for Tropicana (14 Comments)
Elsewhere
LV woman robs Kentucky strip club, police say (4 Comments)
Las Vegas Sands' Hong Kong IPO flops (3 Comments)
The Kats Report
Monday List: Top 13 Moments and Observations From Thanksgiving Weekend (4 Comments)
Calendar »
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
-
Nic Faniciulli at Godskitchen
Body English | 10:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Mischieve Wednesdays at T&T
Tacos and Tequila
-
Ben Sherman gift bag giveaways at Wasted Space
Wasted Space | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





