FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2011

Contact: Erin Seidler 515-537-4465

Jobs First 2012 and OUR TIME Host Press Conference, Panel on Jobs Crisis
Before Iowa Debate, Congressman, Business Leaders, Policy Experts and Young Voters Join Discussion to Challenge Both Parties to Find Solutions Des Moines, IA -- Jobs First 2012 and OUR TIME hosted a press conference and economic panel in Des Moines, IA today on the most significant issue facing our nation jobs and the economy. Occurring just 25 days before the Iowa Caucuses and one day before a nationally televised debate, Congressman Leonard Boswell, business and labor leaders, public policy experts and young voters will discuss the challenges to moving forward on job creation and economic recovery and call on the candidates to find solutions to the nations economic problem. We have a jobs crisis in America, and its a crisis with which Iowa voters are all too familiar. A Jobs First 2012 poll found nearly 60% of Iowa voters have been impacted by this jobs crisis, said Jobs First 2012 founder Leo Hindery. Despite the crisis our nation is faced with, our elected leaders. We invite Iowans to join us at this event bringing people from across the political spectrum together and challenge the candidates to break the political gridlock and put our nation back to work. In addition to the overall discussion of jobs and the economy, this event focused on the jobs crisis among our nations young people. Youth unemployment has gone largely ignored in our national political discussion, and people under the age of 30 have the highest unemployment rate at 17%. Young voters will join the event to share their stories of the tough jobs environment they face, even with a college degree. As bad as the jobs crisis is for everyone, it is worse for young people, said Matthew Segal, founder of OUR TIME. In an economy that is driven by consumer spending, a young persons inability to contribute is a major threat our long-term economic recovery. But the issues facing younger people go largely ignored. Its time our policymakers took action to address this issue and focus on job creation for young Americans. Diane Bystrom (Director, Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Politics at Iowa State University) moderated the forum. Participants included: Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Republican Majority Whip State Rep. Erik Helland, Rob Denson (President, DMACC and Member, Opportunity Nation Leadership Council), Noga OConnor (Economics Research Associate, Iowa Policy Project), Ken Sagar (President, Iowa Federation of Labor), Bob Borosage (President, Institute for Americas Future), Mike Draper (CEO, Raygun), Bob Riley (CEO, Riley Resource Group).

For more information on the roundtable, including video of the event, please visit www.jobsfirst2012.org. Read the op-ed by Hindery and Segal in the Des Moines Register at: http://dmreg.co/tK3t8l ### About Jobs First 2012 Jobs First 2012 is a grassroots organization of people from across the political spectrum - from workers to business leaders and job creators to the unemployed. Jobs First 2012 is meeting with Iowans across the state urging them to demand that our political leaders keep America first, by focusing on job creation first. Supporters of Jobs First 2012 are joining together, sharing their ideas and letting our leaders know they demand action putting jobs before politics. More information at www.jobsfirst2012.org About OUR TIME OUR TIME is national non-profit network of young Americans looking out for each other to advance our rights and opportunities. We believe that no one should be limited by their age, and that young generations possess unique creativity, social empathy, and ingenuity that lead to progress in business and culture. OUR TIME specifically leverages pop culture, retail partnerships, and online organizing to promote thoughtful consumerism and civic engagement. More information can be found at www.OurTime.org