INDIANAPOLIS — Congressman Todd Young forgot about Hoosiers the moment he set foot in Washington, D.C. While speaking to the Washington-based Ripon Society, Congressman Young explained that his job was to ignore the job losses in his state and continue to advocate for the bad trade deals that cost Hoosiers their jobs.
“Indiana is the most manufacturing-intensive state in the country. It’s understandable that people are disaffected, as they have been outsourced…I think our job as legislators and even as candidates is to go out there and continue to make the argument for things like free trade…” –Click here to watch the full video.
It’s worth noting that Congressman Young is no stranger to turning his back on the Hoosier worker. From voting against providing assistance to workers who lost their jobs to loudly opposing the bipartisan auto rescue that saved more than 100,000 Hoosier jobs, Todd Young has done nothing but harm the Hoosier middle-class.
“Congressman Young has proven that the moment he set foot in Washington, he forgot about the well-being of Hoosiers. Young has put Washington’s special-interests ahead of the Hoosier middle-class,”said John Zody, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman. “Congressman Young will do anything to cozy up to Washington leaders – even if it means saying his job wasn’t to worry about job loss in Indiana, but to argue for the bad trade deals that cost Hoosiers those jobs in the first place. Hoosiers deserve better than someone who will tell them one thing, but then hurt them the moment an election ends.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION – TODD YOUNG TURNS HIS BACK ON HOOSIER WORKERS
YOUNG VOTED AGAINST AND WAS “PHILOSOPHICALLY OPPOSED” TO TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE, A PROGRAM THAT COULD PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO LAIDOFF CARRIER WORKERS
Young Was “Philosophically Opposed” To Trade Adjustment Assistance. “Young agreed to allow the worker assistance to advance out of committee because he realizes. ‘TAA is often a necessary component to finalizing trade legislation,’ said spokesman Trevor Foughty. But because Young is philosophically opposed to trade adjustment assistance, he registered his opposition through the floor vote, Foughty said.” [Indianapolis Star, 6/13/15]
YOUNG VOTED AGAINST REAUTHORIZING TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE, OFFICE SAID HIS VOTE WAS INTENDED TO “REGISTER HIS OPPOSITION” TO TAA
Young Voted Against Reauthorizing, Through June 30, 2021, Trade Adjustment Assistance Programs And Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance For Workers Laid Off Because Of The Impact Of Foreign Competition. In June 2015, Young voted against: “Division II of the Ryan, R-Wis., motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would provide Trade Promotion Authority for trade agreements negotiated by the administration, under which they would be considered by Congress under expedited procedures without amendment, and would extend Trade Adjustment Assistance programs to help displaced U.S. workers. The portion of the Senate amendment covered by the division would reauthorize, through June 30, 2021, trade adjustment assistance programs and alternative trade adjustment assistance for workers laid off because of the impact of foreign competition. Offsets would include an extension of certain customs fees and prevention of certain taxpayers with high levels of foreign income from receiving the refundable portion of the child tax credit.” The motion was rejected 126-302. [CQ, 6/12/15; H.R.1314, Vote 361, 6/12/15]
Young’s Office: Young’s Vote Intended To “Register His Opposition” To TAA. “Young agreed to allow the worker assistance to advance out of committee because he realizes. ‘TAA is often a necessary component to finalizing trade legislation,’ said spokesman Trevor Foughty. But because Young is philosophically opposed to trade adjustment assistance, he registered his opposition through the floor vote, Foughty said.” [Indianapolis Star, 6/13/15]
TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE PROVIDED CRUCIAL JOB RETRAINING PROGRAMS FOR WORKERS WHOSE JOBS WENT OVERSEAS
Trade Adjustment Assistance Helps Workers Who Have Lost Their Jobs To Foreign Competition Gain The Skills They Need To Find A New Job. “The Trade Adjustment Assistance program dates to the 1970s and was created to help workers who lost their jobs — or whose wages or hours have been cut — because of foreign competition. The program, in part, offers displaced workers temporary benefits and pays to train them with new skills so they can find a new job.” [PolitiFact,7/6/16]
Trade Adjustment Assistance Helps U.S. Workers Who Have Lost Their Jobs As A Result Of Foreign Trade Gain The Skills, Credentials, And Resources Necessary To Become Reemployed. “The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program is a federal entitlement program that assists U.S. workers who have lost or may lose their jobs as a result of foreign trade. This program seeks to provide adversely affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources, and support necessary to become reemployed.” [Department of Labor, 2014]
YOUNG SAID HE OPPOSED THE AUTO RESCUE, EVEN IF FAILING TO ACT WOULD CAUSE THE COLLAPSE OF GM AND CHRYSLER
Todd Young Said He Would Have Opposed The Stimulus And Rescue Programs Passed By Congress, Including Assistance For The Auto Industry. “Republican Todd Young said Monday he would have opposed the major stimulus and bailout programs Congress has passed the last two years – including assistance for the auto and banking industries – had he been in office.” [Courier-Journal, 9/27/10]
Young Said It Was Not The “Role Of Government To Select Which Private Businesses Survive” Even If Failing To Act Would Have Meant The Collapse Of GM And Chrysler. “Young, who is trying to unseat Democrat incumbent Rep. Baron Hill, told The Courier-Journal’s editorial board that it’s not ‘the appropriate role of government to select which private businesses survive and which ones do not,’ even if failing to act would have meant the collapse of GM and Chrysler, which have significant operations in Indiana.” [Courier-Journal, 9/27/10]
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