Citizen Suburban Times Weekly 7-17-2019

Citizen Week of July 17, 2019

| Vol. 2 | No. 49 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

STATE SENATOR PARTNERS WITH SOUTH SUBURBAN CHURCH TO HOST ANNUAL JOB FAIR On July 27, Senator Michael Hastings along with Victory Apostolic Church will once again partner to host the Annual Taste of Victory Job Fair in Matteson. The job fair will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Victory Apostolic Church, 20801 Matteson Ave., and will host a variety of employers along with resources for job seekers and activities for the families.

SEE PAGE 2

State Senator Michael Hastings (pictured) is partnering with Victory Apostolic Church to host the Taste of Victory Job Fair in Matteson. Photo Caption: Courtesy of Senator Michael Hastings

POLITISCOPE

How Congress lost power over trade deals — and why some lawmakers want it back PAGE 2

NEWS

NEWS

Wells Fargo Study: Homeownership Goals Shape How Americans Live, Work and Save PAGE 4

Cycle of Engagement is the House Democrats’ Strategy to Earn Every Vote PAGE 3

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COMMUNITY State Senator Partners With South Suburban Church To Host Annual Job Fair Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

On July 27, Senator Michael Hastings along with Victory Apostolic Church will once again partner to host the Annual Taste of Victory Job Fair in Matteson. The job fair will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Victory Apostolic Church, 20801 Matteson Ave., and will host a variety of employers along with resources for job seekers and activities for the families.

“The pastor and I are really good friends and we always like to give back to the community. The Taste of Victory Job Fair as a whole is really a community event where we can give

out immunizations, physicals for kids, and school supplies, but it’s also a celebration for the church with tons of food and rides for the kids and entertainment,” said Sen. Hastings.

Job seekers from all levels are encouraged to come to the event with their resume. There will be over 50 employers present at the event and applicants should come prepared for interviews on the spot.

“We came up with this idea to have a job fair because we wanted to bring employers in and go ahead and get some people hired and we knew we didn’t want minimum-wage-earning jobs, we wanted career jobs,” said Hastings.

There will be a broad representation of

employers at the event and Hastings said that they are hoping attendees will be inspired to consider trade jobs which can have a very high earning potential.

“I know in various communities trade jobs aren’t a well-known profession or even a desired profession, for that matter, but if you look at some of the salaries you see that those people are earning a lot these days. It’s almost better to be a tradesman because I know a lot of people who went to college that are trying to bust down the door for a $12-an-hour job,” said Hastings.

The job fair is a time for people to come and learn about potential career options, but

it is also a time to practice interview skills, get feedback on a resume, and connect with community partners to access resources that can help a job seeker break down barriers they may face when it comes to employment.

“Some people don’t know how to interview and a lot of people don’t know how to create a resume for a career job. So the first thing is, we wanted to build a good foundation for people and we’re going to have those services at the job fair during our breakout meetings.

They will be able to learn about what to wear, what to say, what to write on their resume, and then we have the actual job fair itself,” said Hastings.

POLITISCOPE

How Congress lost power over trade deals — and why some lawmakers want it back

BY WILLIAM HAUK

Some in Congress want to wrest control of trade policy back from the president. It might surprise you to learn that lawmakers ever had it.

Until the 1930s, it was Congress that set the terms of U.S. trade negotiations with other countries and raised and lowered tariffs as it saw fit, while the president did little but sign his name. Over the ensuing decades, however, the legislative branch began to cede more and more power to the executive after a trade war sparked by protectionist tariffs worsened the Great Depression.

As a result, President Donald Trump today has been able to unilaterally raise tariffs and launch trade wars with several countries – including allies – without a word from Congress. For some lawmakers, his recent threat, since aborted, to impose a 5% tariff on everything that crosses the border from Mexico was the last straw.

I’m an economist who has worked on the political economy of U.S. trade policy. To provide context on what’s happening today, I thought it was worth revisiting the history of how lawmakers lost their trade powers.

The Constitution and trade Until the 20th century, the president had little say in how the U.S. conducted trade.

Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the exclusive authority to raise taxes. And since tariffs are by definition a type of tax paid on goods and services imported from overseas, Congress

William Hauk

carefully guarded its authority in this area, particularly since they were the largest source of revenue for the federal government until the creation of the income tax in 1913.

As a result, debates over tariffs made up the biggest economic fights of the 19th century and were often used to embarrass political rivals.

This is not to say that the president had no influence over trade policy.

But all changes in tariffs necessarily started as legislation in the House of Representatives since they were, after all, revenue bills. Therefore, before the bill got to the president’s desk, it would go through a full congressional debate with committee reports, amendments, filibusters and the like.

Smoot-Hawley prompts FDR to seize control The Great Depression marked a sharp turning point in U.S. trade policy.

Just as the Depression began, Congress passed what has become known as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff of 1930. It raised prices on imported commodities like wool rags, which were necessary in the clothing indus-

try. It also harmed the economies of U.S. trading partners – which in turn hurt America. For example, Germany, still recovering from World War I and subsequent reparations payments, saw its exports to the U.S. fall by $181 million. As a result, German consumers had fewer U.S. dollars to spend, and U.S. exports to Germany fell by $277 million.

And that’s the problem when hundreds of lawmakers with scores of often narrow interests are in charge of trade policy. As I noted in a 2011 paper, tariffs imposed during this era weren’t designed to maximize national welfare; they instead represented the wishes of interest groups and institutions of the legislative branch.

While this misbegotten legislation did not cause the Great Depression, it almost certainly hindered the recovery. And as a result, the Roosevelt administration worked to seize control of trade policy from Congress. This effort led to the the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 1934, which provided the president with the authority to negotiate tariff agreements with foreign governments as long as both sides mutually lowered their trade barriers.

Congress’ role was reduced to primarily ratifying those agreements – or not – with a simple majority vote.

Raising tariffs, however, still required an act of Congress.

Freer trade and ‘fast track’ Several scholars have argued that this legislation, by removing power over tariffs from Congress and linking trade policy to agreements www.thechicagocitizen.com

negotiated by the president, was key to winning political support for freer trade across the world, including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and its successor, the World Trade Organization.

Average U.S. tariffs fell from nearly 60% in 1934 to about 12% in 1954. This increase in free trade was one of the institutional underpinnings of the postwar economic miracle in several Western countries, including the U.S. More authority shifted to the president with the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which gave him the authority to unilaterally raise tariffs on national security grounds.

Trump used this provision, known as Section 232, as justification for the steel and aluminum tariffs that he imposed on most U.S. trading partners in the spring of 2018.

The Trade Act of 1974 established for the first time what is known as trade promotion authority. Also called “fast track,” this let the president negotiate comprehensive trade deals that included a broad array of non-tariff issues such as quotas and intellectual property protections.

Congress could only approve with an up-or-down vote within 90 days – no amendments or filibusters allowed.

That authority expired in 1980, and Congress has reauthorized it six times since, most recently in 2015.

Proponents of fast track argue that it is necessary to give the president credibility when negotiating agreements. If foreign counterparts believe that an agreement is likely to become bottled up in or amended

by Congress, they may be reluctant to make concessions.

Opponents argue that it delegates too much authority to the executive branch and unduly limits the ability of Congress to debate whether a particular agreement is in the national interest.

Will Congress reassert its power?

While the tariffs Trump has imposed on China and allies like Canada have alarmed lawmakers, the threat to place duties on all imports from Mexico went too far for some, including Republicans.

Trump’s claim that emergency powers gave him authority to impose the tariffs, as well as the severe economic costs expected to result, galvanized Senate Republicans to threaten to pass legislation blocking the tariffs with a veto-proof majority.

The pushback from Congress may point to a broader reassertion of its role in tariff policy. Even as far back as 2015, when the Obama administration sought reauthorization of fast track, lawmakers in the House barely passed the bill, with most Democrats in opposition.

While Democrats and Republicans are largely coming at this issue from different directions, both have found reason in recent years to question the decades-old consensus that has made trade policy the prerogative of the executive branch.

And Trump’s trade policies have put him on a collision course with the pro-business wing of the Republican Party.

William Hauk is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of South Carolina.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of July 17, 2019

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NEWS

Cycle of Engagement is the House Democrats’ Strategy to Earn Every Vote DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos has formally announced the Cycle of Engagement – the largest early investment House Democrats have ever made to improve the way they’re connecting with the base of the Democratic Party – especially people of color and younger Americans.

Following through on a promise to expand upon 2018’s Year of Engagement, and inspired by her own work recruiting and training diverse voices to run for office, the DCCC’s Cycle of Engagement program began with a major early investment in grassroots organizers across America and has continued with targeted digital ads holding Republicans accountable.

In a recognition of the importance of this work, Chairwoman Bustos also announced that DCCC veteran, Tayhlor Coleman, will lead this effort as the DCCC’s first ever Director of the Cycle of Engagement.

“Four years ago, I launched a candidate boot camp that focused primarily on electing women, people of color and younger Americans because our strength as Democrats has always

challenge at this critical moment in our nation’s history. I can think of no one more prepared to lead this effort than her.”

Cycle of Engagement is the DCCC’s multi-year strategy to make sure they earn the support of two of their key constituencies — people of color and younger Americans — early and turn them out to vote for Democrats for Congress. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

come from our diversity,” said DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos. “We can’t take anything for granted in 2020; we need to work to earn every vote one conversation at a time. That’s why one of my first decisions as DCCC Chair was to put boots on the ground in dozens of communities across America.

“We know that having the support

of people of color and young Americans is more important than ever. We are launching Cycle of Engagement to make sure their voices are both listened to and reflected in our strategy to fortify and expand the most diverse House Majority in our nation’s history.

“I want to thank Tayhlor Coleman for taking on this tremendous

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What is Cycle of Engagement?

Cycle of Engagement is the DCCC’s multi-year strategy to make sure they earn the support of two of its key constituencies — people of color and younger Americans — early and turn them out to vote for Democrats for Congress. It includes: l Boots on the ground: In March, the DCCC launched its first Cycle of Engagement program, March Forward – their first major field initiative that has placed nearly 60 grassroots organizers in targeted communities across America. March Forward Field Managers are building on and expanding the conversation Democrats had with these vital communities in 2018 through early voter registration drives, Republican accountability projects, digital outreach and traditional grassroots organizing. l Research and Data: The DCCC will be making significant early Cycle

of Engagement investments in polling, focus groups and other research projects to make sure the work of the Democratic Party is responsive to the hopes, dreams and concerns of communities of color and younger Americans. l Paid Media aimed at People of Color and Younger Americans: The DCCC will invest in extensive targeted paid media, including digital, radio, mail, texting and mobile outreach programs that are in development at the DCCC. The Cycle of Engagement’s digital program is already in full swing with the launch of multiple Spanish language ads holding vulnerable Republican Reps. Scott Tipton and Will Hurd accountable. l Utilizing the talent of Minority Staff and Vendors to lead the Cycle of Engagement: In a recognition of the importance of this work, Tayhlor Coleman, a veteran of the DCCC and Texas native, will serve as the DCCC’s first ever Director of the Cycle of Engagement. To ensure that the messenger matches the message, their work will be created primarily by political consultants of color.

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NEWS

Wells Fargo Study: Homeownership Goals Shape How Americans Live, Work and Save According to a new Wells Fargo survey, Americans are willing to do what it takes to make their homeownership goals a reality — such as taking on a side job, cutting expenses or considering a less-expensive location.

The Wells Fargo 2019 “How America Views Homeownership” survey was conducted by The Harris Poll April 17–29, 2019, among 1,004 U.S. adults 21 and older. Key findings include: • Nearly half of Americans who are saving to buy or renovate a home (49%) have done work outside their primary job to supplement their income to pay for it, such as selling items online (37%), starting a small side business (21%), driving for a rideshare company (18%) and dog sitting/walking (16%).

• Nearly eight in 10 non-homeowners (78%) say they would be willing to accept their second choice of a city or town in order to afford their own home.

• Nearly three quarters of non-homeowners (74%) say they would be willing to buy a smaller home with fewer amenities.

• Over seven in 10 Americans (72%) say they would give up something to save for a down payment, including dining out (44%), going to events (43%) and vacations (38%).

• Millennials who don’t own homes are even more willing to make trade-offs, such as considering a second choice of city (85%), and millennials as a whole say they are more willing to take steps — such as

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side jobs (70%) or cutting expenses (83%) — in order to save.

“Homeownership is part of the fabric of American life, defining communities and providing a base for families to live out their dreams,” said Michael DeVito, head of Wells Fargo Home Lending. “As today’s consumers set out to achieve their homeownership goals, they are making smart financial decisions that position them — and the communities they call home — for long-term financial success.”

For Americans as a whole, homeownership still the goal Even in the wake of the Great Recession and current affordability concerns, Americans see homeownership as a clear metaphor for adulthood and achieving the American Dream. For most Americans (70%), owning a home is seen as a sign that someone is a “successful adult,” on par with having a career (73%).

In fact, homeownership is much more widely equated with being a successful adult (more than twice as much) than having children (34%) or getting married (32%).

Nearly nine in 10 adults (89%) say the benefits of homeownership outweigh any drawbacks. Although most current homeowners (69%) had to make hard sacrifices to afford their home, nearly all say buying their home was worth all the sacrifice to save for it (90%). If they had to do it over again, they say they still would choose to buy their home rather than rent (93%). In fact, nearly all homeowners (95%)

say that, in the long run, owning a home provides more “bang for your buck” than renting.

Millennials share this commitment: 95% of millennial homeowners say it was worth the sacrifice, and 86% of millennials as a whole say the benefits of homeownership outweigh the drawbacks.

“The majority of Americans see homeownership as an investment in their future and as a key piece in achieving goals like financial health and security,” said DeVito. “It is a meaningful step that brings benefits not just to individual families, but also to the neighborhoods and communities they call home. That’s why Wells Fargo is focused on supporting homeownership and homebuyer education, including our recently announced $1 billion commitment to address housing affordability.”

The down payment is the thing The No. 1 hurdle to buying for Americans is saving for the down payment. More than one in four (27%) say the down payment is the biggest barrier, and it’s even more pronounced for millennials, with 38% calling out the down payment as the biggest challenge to buying a home.

This attitude has persisted since the first Wells Fargo “How America Views Homeownership” survey was conducted in 2014, when 24% of respondents said saving enough for a down payment was the biggest barrier to buying. That’s despite the fact that some mortgage programs allow qualified buyers to put down

Graphic highlighting key findings of Wells Fargo’s 2019 “How America Views Homeownership” survey (Graphic: Business Wire)

as little as 3%.

Americans also have misperceptions about what it takes to increase their opportunity to get financing for a home, citing “perfect” credit (71%), being debt-free (65%), “having a lot of money in the bank” (59%) and having no student debt (38%). In fact, 31% of homeowners say they never thought they would be able to purchase their own home, and that number was even higher (54%) for millennial homeowners.

“Financial education represents a tremendous opportunity when it comes to helping more Americans achieve homeownership, and there are a lot of resources available to address the misperceptions that persist about homebuying,” said DeVito.

“It is important to save and tend to your credit score, but you don’t need perfect credit, and there are low down payment loan programs designed to give first-time buyers a clearer path to owning a home.”

IBHE And Nursing Workforce Center Recognize 2019 Nurse Educator Fellows

Report: Demand for Specialist Physicians Driving Physician Recruitment

Speaker of the House of Representatives to deliver remarks at 110th NAACP National Convention

The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center (INWC) Advisory Board are acknowledging the 2019 Nurse Educator Fellow recipients, each of whom is awarded $10,000 to help promote excellence in nursing education.

Pursuing doctorate degrees, research on heart attacks in women, the Certified Nurse Educator exam, and more are examples of how nurse educators in Illinois are using the fellowship dollars.

“We are grateful to state lawmakers, who funded this program in recognition of the many benefits it provides to the educators, their colleges and universities, and their students,” said Nyle Robinson, interim executive director of IBHE. “The list of projects, research, and plans for additional degrees and certifications that this group is pursuing is beyond impressive.”

Hospitals, medical groups, and other healthcare facilities are seeking more medical specialists and fewer primary care physicians, according to an annual report tracking physician starting salaries and other recruiting incentives.

Prepared by Merritt Hawkins, the nation’s leading physician search firm and a company of AMN Healthcare, the 2019 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives tracks a sample of 3,131 physician and advanced practitioner recruiting engagements that the firm conducted from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019. Now in its 26th year, the report indicates Merritt Hawkins is conducting a growing number of search engagements for medical specialists and fewer searches for primary care physicians relative to recent years.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s foremost civil rights organization, has announced that Speaker Nancy Pelosi will give remarks at the 110th National Convention in Detroit on July 22, 2019.

“We are delighted to have Speaker Pelosi join us to address our activists and advocates from across the country about the major issues impacting our communities today,” said Derrick Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the NAACP. “Congress must be the keystone in enacting policies to ensure all Americans have access to jobs paying a livable wage, affordable healthcare, and quality public education for young people. Everyone deserves the right to elect their representatives without voter suppression, racial gerrymandering and foreign interference. We look forward to hearing from Speaker Pelosi on legislative wins and plans to further advance social justice in this highly charged political climate.”

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CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of July 17, 2019

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