(Here’s the whole thing, for posterity):
Obama for Alaska Press Release
By Emily Bokar - Jul 14th, 2008 at 9:17 pm EDT
Also listed in: Alaska Action Team | Alaskans for Obama
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OBAMA FOR ALASKA UNVEILS PLAN FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR ALASKA’S WORKING WOMEN
ANCHORAGE, AK – Senator Barack Obama’s campaign today unveiled a plan to provide economic security for Alaska’s working women. Obama’s plan directly addresses the challenges that women and families face affording quality child care, juggling personal and professional commitments, and coping with soaring prices.
“I don’t accept an America where a woman earns less than a man for the same work, or an America that makes women choose between their kids and their careers. It’s unacceptable that women are denied jobs or promotions because they’ve got kids at home. It’s unacceptable that 22 million working women don’t have a single paid sick day,” Senator Obama said. “When I’m President, we’ll take these critical issues head-on and help women and families thrive in a changing economy.”
“Barack Obama and his wife Michelle come from a working class background and understand what families need,” said Obama Alaska spokesman Jeff Giertz. “Given the tough times we are facing economically, Senator Obama’s economic plan is essential for families already juggling higher prices for food, housing, and the fuel needed for their cars and trucks. Senator Obama is the clear choice as the President who will provide Alaska’s working women with the economic relief they need.”
Obama’s Plan for Economic Security for America’s Working Women
Tax cut for working women. Barack Obama will provide 71 million working women with a tax cut of up to $500—or $1000 per family—to help offset the impact of stagnant wages and skyrocketing costs. 200,000 Alaska women would benefit from this tax break.
Balancing work and family. Obama will help address the challenge of balancing work and family by guaranteeing seven days of paid sick leave to the 22 million working women who currently have none. Obama will also expand child care tax credits, double funding for afterschool programs to serve 1 million more children, and will create a summer learning program to serve an additional 1 million young people. 13,000 Alaska working women would benefit from the expanded child care tax credits and 5,183 Alaska children will benefit from this expansion of afterschool programs.
Health care for every American. As President, Obama will reduce health care costs by $2,500 for a typical family, while providing affordable health care for every American.
A secure retirement guaranteed. Obama will strengthen retirement security for working women, who currently enter retirement with less than half the retirement savings of men. Obama’s plan will automatically enroll workers in retirement accounts (with the option to opt-out) and make these accounts portable to help working parents save while balancing their family obligations.
Equal Pay. Obama will fight for paycheck equity and to close the pay gap that leaves women earning only 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. The pay gap is even more pronounced for minority working women—with Hispanic women earning only 53 cents and African American women only 62 cents for every dollar of male earnings.
Affordable college. Obama will put the cost of college in reach for by providing a $4,000 refundable tax credit available at the time of enrollment in exchange for community service.
Raise the minimum wage. Obama will help low-wage working women move into the middle class by increasing the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2011, and indexing it to inflation—and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). 176,000 Alaska women would directly benefit from the minimum wage increase.
Support Women-Owned Small Businesses. Obama will help women-owned small businesses innovate, grow and create jobs by cutting their capital gains tax rate to zero, and implementing the Women Owned Business contracting program that has been abandoned by the Bush Administration. 22,169 Alaska women small business owners would benefit from the Zero Capital Gains proposal.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 14, 2008
Good job. Thanks.