SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A report released today by Californiapolicy researchers David Kersten and former California State Senate policy expert Elisabeth Kerstenfound that “AB 1543 would have a massive impact on the creation of new jobs in the United States, particularly California. ”

AB 1543, authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) represents a basic fair idea:  California State and local governments should not spend California taxpayers’ money overseas.

The California Labor Federation (representing 2.1 million union members in manufacturing, retail, construction, healthcare, public sector, hospitality, entertainment, and other industries) has stated, “AB 1543 will create a billion-dollar market for goods manufactured in California, creating an incentive for companies to create and retain jobs in the state. California is still a global economic power and we can leverage that power to rebuild and strengthen our economy.”

The report by Kersten Communications entitled, “Examining the Policy Foundations and Economic Benefits of AB 1543 (Alejo, 2012) The California Buy American Act,”, contains the following conclusions:

• California State and local governments are spending an estimated $44.75 billion annually to purchase goods with taxpayer funds that are manufactured abroad.
• The passage of AB 1543 would lead to the creation and annual support of between 938,000 and 2.4 million new manufacturing jobs.
• Over the years, offshoring practices of some of America’s largest and most powerful corporations, serving California governmental agencies, such as IBM, Apple, Cisco, and Intel have cost the state large amounts of manufacturing jobs.
• These companies manufacture up to 85% of their goods abroad.
• California state and local governments are exporting large amounts of taxpayer dollars abroad to support the economies of Asia, particularly China and India, and the Far East, among others.
• AB 1543 would require that, starting in 2014, at least 70% of these taxpayer funds be spent on manufactured goods made in the United States.

Jim Gonzalez, Chair of the Renewable Energy Accountability Project stated, “During the last ten years, 600,000 Made in America manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas from California.  In the United States, over 6 million Made in America manufacturing jobs were lost during the same period.”

“We can either continue to wring our hands and give lip service to creating manufacturing jobs, or we can pass AB 1543.  AB 1543 will assure that renewable energy manufacturing jobs remain in the USA,” Gonzalez concluded.

The Renewable Energy Accountability Project (REAP) is a leading national grass roots environmental organization committed to achieving clean energy independence and ending global warming pollution.

REAP is a non-profit sponsor of AB 1543; and commissioned the Kersten Report.

www.REAPinfo.org

A copy of the Kersten Report is available at this link: www.REAPinfo.org

The Kersten Report was co-authored by David Kersten and Elisabeth Kersten.

David Kersten has more than 12 years of professional work experience, including stints as a Capitol staffer, lobbyist, campaign consultant and journalist.  Kersten holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University and graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California San Diego in 1998.  

Elisabeth Kersten is the former executive director of the Senate Office of Research, provides public policy consulting to Kersten Communications.  Elisabeth currently serves as a Clinical Professor for the School of Policy, Planning and Development at the University of Southern California’s (USC) State Capitol Center where she teaches courses on political leadership in public sector organizations.  Mrs. Kersten retired from her position as the executive director of the Senate Office of Research in January 2004. 

SOURCE Renewable Energy Accountability Project