Michigan Leads Nation in Jobs Lost to Unfair Trade Deals, Bush-Walberg Policies to Blame

Michigan Leads Nation in Jobs Lost to Unfair Trade Deals, Bush-Walberg Policies to Blame
Schauer fighting for policies that put workers first

BATTLE CREEK—According to a new report released today by the Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit study group, Michigan led the nation in the percentage of jobs lost to unfair trade agreements during 2007 (7.49%).

“While unfair trade deals have devastated Michigan’s economy, Tim Walberg and his friends at the extreme Club for Growth are making things worse,” said congressional candidate Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek). “Our Congressman has admitted he’s ‘bought and paid for’ by a group that wants to expand free trade agreements, and he’s even agreed that ‘outsourcing is both necessary and good’ for our economy. Michigan workers can’t afford more of the same.”

Earlier this week, Schauer participated in a roundtable discussion with Michigan workers to hear firsthand accounts about how unfair trade deals like NAFTA have devastated communities across the state. In the state Senate, Schauer co-sponsored bills that would prevent companies from using state economic development funds to outsource jobs (SB 1238, 2006), and offer relief to workers who have lost their jobs due to outsourcing (SB 1162, 2006).

During the 2006 election cycle, the pro-free trade Club for Growth spent $1.1 million to defeat moderate Republican Joe Schwarz and put Tim Walberg in Congress. [Club for Growth Press Release, 8/8/06; Ann Arbor News, 8/9/06]

# # #