Thursday, September 22, 2011

Obama pads numbers of 'green jobs'


What are green jobs?
From FoxNews.com, Sept. 22:
In a series of tense exchanges, Republicans on a House oversight panel sharply questioned whether the Obama administration was looking to inflate the number of "green" jobs by using a broad definition—which, as it turns out, counts virtually anybody working in mass transit. . . .
Official data on green jobs are hard to come by. The Bureau of Labor Statistics currently is trying to come up with a workable definition and formula to track green-jobs employment. The bureau expects to have its first estimate out early next year.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis pointed to a separate study claiming 2.7 million Americans are in "clean economy" positions.
But Republicans said the working term the government is using is far too broad, suggesting officials were trying to pad the figures.
"It's offensive," Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., said, raising his voice while questioning Solis.
Mack argued that just because a bus driver is driving a hybrid bus doesn't mean it's a green job.
"Yes it is," Solis countered.
"It's only a green job if it fits into your sales pitch," Mack shot back.

2 comments:

  1. Mack argued that just because a bus driver is driving a hybrid bus doesn't mean it's a green job.
    "Yes it is," Solis countered.
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    In that case the green job cancels out the existing job (the guy would be driving some kind of bus anyway)so there is no net job gain.

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  2. If they had created 3 NEW bus routes employing three
    new drivers in Hybrids - that would be New Green Jobs !
    Then the argument would be about whether the 3 routes were added because they were needed, or just to boost Green Recruitment to the detriment of the bus company's balance-sheet, unless they were subsidized by government - but that's just me being synical !

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