Our official research arm – the GAO – just released a new report about access to driving and license suspension. Thanks to Representatives Pete Stark, Jim McDermott, and Gwen Moore for their interest in the impact of state policy and practice on local economic conditions and economic license suspensions!

Mobility Agenda readers know that we encourage policy-maker focus on access to driving and the impact of license suspension on communities, employers, and workers. We’ve hosted a national roundtable and published our research on economic license suspensions. Read more about this topic here.

We’re pleased to see this interest in Congress. Read the report to learn more about promising alternatives to suspension in some places. 

Low-wage workers with access to a reliable car are more likely to work, earn more, and work more hours. So, lack of a driver’s license is a barrier to work. In addition, some jobs – especially in construction and health care – require a license of all applicants. For workers without a license, jobs may be inaccessible because a license is a prerequisite, or because a car is the only means of access to a job far from home. The most common reasons for license suspension and revocation are for non-driving offenses, as states have moved to use the license as a means to enforce other goals and raise revenue. The Mobility Agenda studies strategies to reduce the impact of license loss for economic reasons.

 

 

Paid Leave

Lawmakers push to expand paid leave

“But employers object to the proposal’s rigid, one-size-fits-all approach; it’s not needed, employers groups say, because 74 percent of employers already provide paid sick days…”

Because one-size-fits-74% ain’t bad…right? It’s not like we’re all in this together or anything…

Commerce association to challenge sick-day ordinance
“The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Board of Directors voted unanimously Monday to proceed with a legal challenge to the paid-sick-day ordinance that voters overwhelmingly approved Nov. 4.”

Later, the MMAC kicked a puppy.

Bush Changes to Employee Leave among First Midnight Rules

“The rule…will make it more difficult for employees to use paid leave when taking FMLA leave. Because FMLA leave is unpaid, employees often attempt to use paid leave, such as paid vacation time, to avoid disruptions in their pay.”

Those darn pesky workers, always trying to “avoid disruptions in pay” and “take their kids to the doctor and still afford to buy food for their family”.

Jobs, Mobility

The Tear-Down (Detroit Edition)
“The nation is said to be in need to some bottom-up economic stimulus. And NOW we’re going to tear down what remains of the country’s manufacturing core? We’re going to say good-bye to companies that collectively (and again, because of union bargaining power) provide health coverage for two million people (their direct employees, dependents, retirees, and supplier employees)??”

No ironic comment needed here!

Upward Mobility is So 1970s

“Between 1978 and 2005, CEO pay increased from 35 times to nearly 262 times the average worker’s pay,” the study finds. That’s because CEOs are making all of the important decisions that keep workers employed and our economy afloat…

Poverty

Poverty Here at Home: Part I
“But, again and again, when we talked about children in poverty nobody just talks about numbers or salaries. The conversation every time leads to talking about the structure of family.”

That sounds like a very productive conversation.

Langston University Helps Tackle Poverty in Tulsa

“Poverty in Oklahoma is substantial and it is real…It is also too expensive to be ignored.” 

The poverty banner is also expensive: it will cost you your policy goals. Public will can’t be bought with Poverty Pennies.