DAILY LOBO new mexico
Bank statement got you down?
thursday
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October 20, 2011
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
jobs bill provides billions in benefits by Chelsea Erven and Felipe Medina-Marquez
The plan dedicates $30 billion to modernizing at least 35,000 public schools across the country and a $5 billion investment news@dailylobo.com in modernizing community colleges (including Editor’s Note: You’ve seen the commercials tribal colleges), as well as allotting $50 billion and heard President Barack Obama tell Congress for modernizing roads, railways, airports and “(Some Americans) are living week-to-week, pay- waterways, opening up thousands of new jobs. check-to-paycheck, even day-to-day. They need 3) Pathways Back to Work for Americans help and they need it now,” but who has time to actually read Obama’s proposed American Jobs Act? Looking for Jobs Obama says the Jobs Act includes the most inHere’s a breakdown of the Act and what it could novation reform to the unemployment insurance mean for you.* program in 40 years. It extends unemployment insurance to prevent 6 million Americans looking There are four major categories: for work from losing their benefits. It encourages employers to prevent layoffs by 1) Tax Cuts for Small Business If passed, the plan would cut in half the tax- promoting work-sharing, as opposed to layoffs. The plan aims to establish a new “Bridge to es paid by 98 percent of businesses on their first $5 million in payroll, and institute a pay- Work” program to build on and improve state roll tax holiday for hiring new workers or in- programs where those without work can take creasing the wages of workers. What does temporary, voluntary work or pursue on-the-job this mean? Small businesses will have to training, making them more employable. The Jobs Act proposes $4,000 tax credit to empay fewer taxes and can hire more workers. ployers for hiring long-term unemployed workers and prohibits employers from discriminating 2) Putting Workers Back On the Job The plan proposes a “Returning Heroes” a against unemployed workers when hiring. $5600-9600 hiring tax credit for veterans, which will encourage employers to hire vets. If passed, it would prevent up to 280,000 teacher layoffs, and work to keep cops and firefighters on the job.
4) Tax Relief for Every American Worker and Family If passed, the plan would cut payroll taxes in half for 160 million workers in 2012, which would provide a $1,500 tax cut to the average American family earning $50,000 per year. The plan would also allow more Americans to refinance their mortgages at today’s near 4 percent interest rates, which can put more than $2,000 a year in a family’s pocket.
for college students, and that he wants to see Congress pass the plan. “It is important that we take action now to strengthen our economy, so that current and graduating college students can succeed in finding jobs and building successful careers,” he said. “Students who have worked so hard in the classroom deserve the opportunity to get ahead.” U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM) said the plan only provides more spending and stimulus, which he said won’t help unemployment in the long run. “It is time for the administration to accept that we cannot spend our way to economic recovery,” he said. “This administration has promised 13 million jobs through the stimulus plan, green energy policies, extending unemployment benefits and health care.”
To ensure the Jobs Act is fully paid for, the President will call on the Joint Committee to come up with additional deficit reduction necessary to pay for the Act and still meet its deficit target. The Jobs Act was defeated in the Senate on Oct. 11 by a 50-49 vote. Officials said the vote may end the bill’s legislative life as a *According to the American Jobs Act, whiteunified package, but pieces of it could pass house.gov, and firedoglake.com in coming months. What do New Mexico Democrats and Republicans say of the Act? As always, they disagree. U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), said he thinks the plan provides important job creation measures for middle-class New Mexicans and
COUNCILOR AND SPOUSE VISIT OCCUPY CAMP
Job site aims to keep talent in NM by Christine Romero and Luke Holmen news@dailylobo.com
Juan Labreche / Daily Lobo City council Vice President Rey Garduño surveys the camp during his visit to Occupy Albuquerque on Tuesday. Garduño and his wife talked with various members during their quick visit. See photo essay on page 2.
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 116
issue 42
Music behind bars
Mariachi inspires youth
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As the number of college graduates increases and the number of available jobs dwindles, graduates are hard-pressed to connect with potential employers. UNM Career Services, which took over the NM CareerMatch website, helps New Mexico graduates locate jobs in Albuquerque, UNM director of Career Services Jenna Crabb said. She said that there are more than 1,400 employers registered on the site. “The employers who post on this site are specifically looking at retaining our graduates and hiring our alumni,” she said. “It is a great connection and networking tool for our alumni.” The site’s largest employers include Lovelace and Presbyterian hospitals, Hewlett-Packard, KPMG (a U.S. audit, tax and advisory services firm) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The site automatically logs and verifies transcripts and GPAs through UNM so employees don’t have to send copies to each perspective employer, and provides both employers and would-be employees a platform for hiring.
Amy Miller attended UNM and CNM and graduated with a degree in business. She works at a veterinary office, but said she hopes NM Careermatch.com can connect her with a higher-paying job. She said the website specifically solicits New Mexico graduates, and many of the employers on the website are locally based. “One of the reasons it’s such a good site is because it’s for New Mexico graduates only,” she said. “You literally have to go on there and prove you are a New Mexico grad.” Sixty-five percent of New Mexico employers had posted a position on the site at one time, and 48 percent ranked the site as “good“ or “excellent,” according to a recent survey conducted by NM Careermatch. Seventy-seven percent said they hired at least one individual whose profile was posted on the site. Crabb said the goal of the site is to retain New Mexico college graduates and promote their talents. She said too many New Mexico graduates leave the state to find work. “Our workforce will stand out nationally by providing cutting-edge work in our nation,” she said. “The brain drain that many depict occurs would stop.”
TODAY
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