Ron Sparks' New Position on Unemployment Benefits Is a Welcome Change!

Here's the press release (4.00 / 1)

It hit my inbox at 7:41 this morning.

Sparks calls on Riley to include unemployment compensation in special session

Alabama Democratic candidate for governor Ron Sparks is calling on Governor Bob Riley to expand the issues of the pending special session to include legislation accepting $100 million dollars of federal stimulus funds targeted to expand and extend unemployment benefits to thousands of out of work Alabamians.

"People are hurting all over Alabama," said Sparks. "The slow recovery of our economy is placing a heavy burden on thousands of Alabamians who are currently out of work and eligible for unemployment benefits.  As I have previously stated, I fully support an extension of the benefit period for those currently receiving unemployment and the expansion of benefits to part-time workers and others covered by the federal stimulus plan.  Let me be clear on this issue: any legislation dealing with this issue should include a legislative requirement that calls for the termination of the expansion of benefits once the stimulus funds are exhausted.  I refuse to strap the businesses of this state with undue financial burdens."

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 08:12:58 AM CDT

Just got the press release! (4.00 / 1)

It hit my inbox while I was working on the diary.  It's the same text as on the Web site.

Although the switch is a bit awkward, better to clear up the issue now and move on with a positive, issue-oriented campaign.  
 

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 08:15:16 AM CDT

True (0.00 / 0)

But this statement really casts a pall over the economic populism argument for Sparks:

Let me be clear on this issue: any legislation dealing with this issue should include a legislative requirement that calls for the termination of the expansion of benefits once the stimulus funds are exhausted.  I refuse to strap the businesses of this state with undue financial burdens.

You seldom hear economic populists worrying about strapping businesses with undue financial burdens.  Populism is usually more about lifting up the populace, not the business community.  You can do both at the same time, of course, but the emphasis on people is key to a populist appeal.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 09:03:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

well at least (4.00 / 2)

Alabama has higher benefits than...(wait for it)...

oh, you know :P

When in doubt tell the truth. It will confound your enemies and astound your friends.---Mark Twain

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by: julie @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 10:56:23 AM CDT

The new position did not go unnoticed by the Davis campaign (4.00 / 1)

Here's their press release, from about 2 hours ago:

Davis Stands Up for Alabama Workers, Sparks Takes 3 Different Positions in 6 Days

Artur Davis has consistently stood up for expanded unemployment benefits for Alabama's workers, supporting legislation that would cost Alabama nothing and provide millions in extra benefits for struggling Alabamians. In more than six months, Artur Davis has had one position - that Alabama's working families need help during these tough economic times.  Meanwhile, six days after the Business Council of Alabama forum in Point Clear, Ron Sparks has changed his tune on unemployment once again, arriving at his third position in less than a week.

On Saturday, Ron Sparks promised an audience of business leaders that he opposed expanding unemployment benefits.  Yesterday, he told reporters "I don't know," adding "I'm probably not as up to date on that issue as I probably should be."  Today, Ron Sparks says he fully supports taking stimulus funds for expanding unemployment and wants the issue addressed in a special session of the Alabama Legislature.

"Congressman Davis' consistent leadership in standing up for struggling Alabama families is exactly what Alabama needs to create the jobs of the 21st century.  Ron Sparks' shameless pandering shows that he is more concerned about the politics of this issue than doing what's right," said Davis campaign spokesman Alex Goepfert.  "While we're glad that Ron Sparks has finally decided to join Congressman Davis in standing up for struggling Alabama families, Sparks' bizarre statements and erratic changes in position over the past week raise very serious questions about his ability to lead the state."

Below are transcripts of Ron Sparks' comments from the gubernatorial forum, press conference and campaign press release.

BACKGROUND

Ron Sparks at the BCA Forum in Point Clear, 8/2/2009

QUESTION:  During the last legislative session, Governor Riley refused to accept about $100 million in federal stimulus for unemployment benefits.  Given the same choice, what would you do and why?

ANSWER:  I probably understand unemployment as much as anybody.  My little home town of Fort Payne, Alabama used to have 6,000 sock jobs.  Now they have 1,500.  I don't know of anybody in Alabama that's not getting the unemployment that they deserve and the workforce training that they deserve at this point in time.  So when the federal government sends those type of issues down and says there's gonna be strings on it and we're gonna pay for it forever.  As governor, I would never strap the businesses of Alabama to take care of that tab.

Ron Sparks Press Conference in Montgomery, 8/6/2009

QUESTION:  So you think Governor Riley made the right decision or wrong decision?

ANSWER:  Yes, with the information that Governor Riley had. I certainly don't have all the information he had, but there again, I would hope that anybody that needs unemployment gets it but I hope that we be very cautious about what it's going to cost business, so I would hope that about strapping businesses.

QUESTION:  That sounds like a "yes" answer to that question?

ANSWER:  A yes to.what was the question?

QUESTION:  Did Gov. Riley do the right thing?

ANSWER:  I think Governor Riley.There again, the governors been in Washington. He's the one that has been dealing with those issues and I would say that uh, I want the people of Alabama to get their unemployment. I'm probably not as up to date on that issue as I probably should be, but I want the people to get unemployment, but at the same time.

QUESTION:  If you had been governor back in the spring and that option had been there.

ANWER:  I wasn't.

QUESTION:  I know, but what would you have done?

ANSWER:  I don't know because I was Commissioner. I don't know what all the governor was being faced with at that point in time. I really don't know. Certainly, I have been very pro-working class people in Alabama. I don't know of anybody at this point in time in Alabama.enough said. But certainly I want the people to get their unemployment.  I want, I want them to get their training. You know, Bill, I came from a home town that had 6,000 sock jobs and today they got 1,500 sock jobs. I know what people are going through in Alabama and I want them to get it, but at the same time I want to be perfectly clear on this of how we're going to move forward and what's it going to cost business.

Sparks Press Release, 8/6/2009

Sparks calls on Riley to include unemployment compensation in special session

Democratic candidate for governor Ron Sparks is calling on Governor Bob Riley to expand the issues of the pending special session to include legislation accepting $100 million dollars of federal stimulus funds targeted to expand and extend unemployment benefits to thousands of out of work Alabamians.

"People are hurting all over Alabama," said Sparks. "The slow recovery of our economy is placing a heavy burden on thousands of Alabamians who are currently out of work and eligible for unemployment benefits. As I have previously stated, I fully support an extension of the benefit period for those currently receiving unemployment and the expansion of benefits to part-time workers and others covered by the federal stimulus plan. Let me be clear on this issue: any legislation dealing with this issue should include a legislative requirement that calls for the termination of the expansion of benefits once the stimulus funds are exhausted. I refuse to strap the businesses of this state with undue financial burdens."

I know this is lengthy, but the background information is interesting.  Y'all can read it and form your own opinion.  

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 13:01:27 PM CDT

Expansion of unemployment benefits (4.00 / 1)

I like Ron Sparks' new position, all except mandating that the expansion would only be temporary. It seems pretty clear that his position on this has evolved over time. After 8 years of W, who never changed his mind, I can't say that a willingness to rethink decisions is a bad thing -- maybe he'll eventually come around to supporting unemployment benefits for part time workers all the time, too. However, I believe the lesson learned here is that the best thing is to stake out a good position in the first place, one that you can live with for the long haul. Davis seems to have done that.  

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 13:11:17 PM CDT

I don't mind him changing his mind (4.00 / 2)

So long as he's moving toward the side of the angels.

"The War in Iraq is not the disease. The War in Iraq is a symptom. Arrogance is the disease" - Bill Richardson

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by: herding old cats @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 13:26:33 PM CDT

This, my friends, is why primaries make for better candidates in the general election. (4.00 / 2)

Better to get this mess cleared up now.

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by: melmel @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 15:52:44 PM CDT

Amen! (4.00 / 1)

Imagine what the Republican noise machine would do with this story.  Can you say "flip flop?"

Without getting ugly, that's pretty much what the Davis release says.  

Meanwhile, six days after the Business Council of Alabama forum in Point Clear, Ron Sparks has changed his tune on unemployment once again, arriving at his third position in less than a week.

Their communications team is playing at a much higher level than the Sparks folks right now. Nothing gets by them, nothing relevant goes unremarked. That's the way Democrats will have to play if they want to win in 2010.

Work harder and work smarter!

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by: mooncat @ Fri Aug 07, 2009 at 18:09:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]