T1B

Jeb Bush says Americans should work longer hours to achieve economic growth

One of the richest Republicans seeking the presidency says the path to economic growth will be forged by having Americans work "longer hours."

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who recently disclosed a net worth of up to $22 million, is catching flack for saying in a New Hampshire interview Wednesday that "people need to work longer hours and through their productivity, gain more income for their families."

Bush, who has promised to foster 4 percent growth if elected to the White House, made the comments during a sitdown with the Union-Leader newspaper that was broadcast live.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party quickly jumped on Bush's remarks, with spokeswoman Lizzy Price saying via email, "It would have been tough to make a more out-of-touch comment, considering recent polling about how many hours on average Americans work ... it's more than full-time."

Bush, according to the Boston Globe, later sought to clarify his remarks by saying he wasn't referring to people who are already carrying a full workload or working more than one job.

"You can take it out of context all you want," the Globe quoted him as saying, "but high sustained growth means that people will work 40 hours rather than 30 hours, and that by our success they have money and disposable income for their families to decide how they want to spend it rather than getting in line and being dependent on government."

According to a 2014 Gallup report, "Adults employed full time in the U.S. report working an average of 47 hours per week, almost a full workday longer than what a standard five-day, 9-to-5 schedule entails.

"In fact, half of all full-time workers indicate they typically work more than 40 hours, and nearly four in 10 say they work at least 50 hours."

Mikey wrote:...employers need to hire more full time workers instead of part time,

mvscal wrote:

Mikey wrote:...employers need to hire more full time workers instead of part time,

Or maybe the Democrats in Congress shouldn't have passed the godawful piece of shit called "Affordable" Health Care based on a pack of bald face lies.

So how are all those healthcare savings workin out for ya?

Madison — Wisconsin manufacturing and retail workers could volunteer to work seven days straight without a day off under a bill two Republican lawmakers are circulating on behalf of the state's largest business group.

The bill promises to ratchet up tensions between the GOP and Democrats and their organized labor allies, who are still stinging after Republicans passed Gov. Scott Walker's plan to all but eliminate collective bargaining for most public workers in 2011.

The measure's authors, Sen. Glenn Grothman of West Bend and Mark Born of Beaver Dam, say the bill brings Wisconsin in line with federal law, gives workers a way to make extra money and employers a way to boost production. But Democrats and labor leaders insisted bosses would use the bill to force their employees to work longer and effectively erase the weekend.

"Even God said rest on the seventh day," said David Reardon, secretary-treasurer for Teamsters Local 662, a union that represents about 10,000 workers across various industries in west-central and east-central Wisconsin, including manufacturing, truck driving, public workers and food service workers. "I would hate to see that Republican bill pass. Some employers would really take advantage of that."

Current Wisconsin law requires employers who own or operate factories or retail stores to give their workers at least 24 consecutive hours off every seven days. Under Grothman and Born's proposal, workers could volunteer to work seven straight days without a rest day.

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business organization, brought the idea to them, the two Republicans said. The organization was doing a study on discrepancies between federal and state law and discovered federal law imposes no such limits on consecutive work days as long as minimum wage and overtime payment requirements are met, Born said.

In an email to lawmakers seeking support for the bill, Born and Grothman said they had heard from businesses with employees who want to work the additional time. But when asked for names Born said the only people he met with to discuss the bill were from WMC.

"We should have worded that differently," Born said. Grothman said he has talked to a business but declined to name it.

WMC spokesman Jim Pugh didn't return messages.

Born said the bill gives workers a chance to make some extra dollars and their bosses a means to increase production.

"Here's an opportunity for folks to work together to get things done in a positive way for the employer and the employee," Born said. "It just seems like a win all the way around."

But opponents warned the only choice employees will have is work the extra hours or lose their jobs. The measure also would give workers who can work the extra day an advantage over workers who want to spend a day with their family, they said.

Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, called the legislation a "slap in the face to ordinary working folks in Wisconsin."

"Workers fought long and hard for a 40-hour work week and the weekend," Mason said. "People deserve at least a day off a week. It's a legal protection for a reason."

Grothman dismissed their concerns, saying he's never heard of any business where pressuring employees to work extra hours has been a problem. He, too, insisted the bill would help workers make extra cash.

"It's ridiculous when people want to work extra hours why Democrats would stand in the way of that," he said. "I don't know why some people want some people to remain poor."

The bill's prospects are unclear. Republicans control both houses of the Legislature but caucus leaders haven't committed any support for the measure and a Walker spokesman was noncommittal.

Wolfman wrote:Does he rope off press reporters? He needs to get more "in touch."

Screw_Michigan wrote:

Wolfman wrote:Does he rope off press reporters? He needs to get more "in touch."

Why are you obsessed with both Hillary Clinton and making it about one party or the other? It's fucking creepy.

Rooster wrote:I once did a five month stint with no days off, 14-18 hours a day, but my income put me into the top 1% for the year.

Rooster wrote: more work equals more income.

Rooster wrote:more work equals more income.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

Rooster wrote:more work equals more income.

How long do you think it took for ol Jeb to arrive at this bit of economic brilliance? He is probably the first politician to ever think this up.

Diego in Seattle wrote:

Diego in Seattle wrote:

War Wagon wrote:There was less reason or opportunity to do so.

Diego in Seattle wrote:

War Wagon wrote:There was less reason or opportunity to do so.

Bullshit.

Wasting time or being a lazy fuck is about the worker's attitude, not the device they use nor how they do it.

And it's partially the supervisor's responsibility for such shit, since they should know what's going on.

R-Jack wrote:no one fucked off at work before iPhones.

mvscal wrote: So how are all those healthcare savings workin out for ya?

KC Scott wrote:I believe certain people who bought through the exchanges got their insurance cheaper - at the expense of those of us that work and get ours through our employer

Mine monthly premiums increased, so did most of my friends that I've asked about it

KC Scott wrote:One of the promises of Obamacare was "Since everybody will be required to buy coverage, the price will go down"

And We see how well that artificial demand creation has worked

Felix wrote: yeah and the government is responsible for the insurance companies jacking their rates up....

Dinsdale wrote:Wait, the government reduced market competition AGAIN, and prices went up... AGAIN?

Takes an econ major to figure that one out.

KC Scott wrote:

Mikey wrote:

Dinsdale wrote:Wait, the government reduced market competition AGAIN, and prices went up... AGAIN?

Takes an econ major to figure that one out.

And how, exactly, did ACA "reduce market competition?"

Don't forget the thing about correlation and causation...

This should be good.

They mandated everyone must buy insurance

When health insurance was optional - there was increased competition

By mandating it, the insurance companies knew everyone must buy it, regardless of price

mvscal wrote: The government is responsible for the rate increases, you brainless fuck puddle.