CMU professor testifies before House of Representatives committee
Jason Taylor is used to speaking to crowds of students – but a group of the nation’s legislators was an entirely new ball game.
Taylor, an associate professor of economics, traveled to Washington D.C. on June 10 to testify to the House of Representative’s Ways and Means committee regarding unemployment insurance.
The testimony, which lasted five minutes, focused on whether unemployment insurance is beneficial for the economy. Taylor said the insurance is relevant because the number of unemployed individuals having been jobless for over six months is at its highest ever recorded in history.
Taylor said decreasing the funding they receive will ultimately help the economy, thus raising the number of jobs available.
“At some point, government spending is more harmful than helpful,” Taylor said.
He said the government needs to limit their spending instead of increase it, a stance based on Keynesian economics, in order to help the economy.
Taylor, an economic history expert, gave examples from history of what has worked and what has not.
“After World War II, the government was saying if we stop the stimulus we’ll go into another depression,” said Taylor. “Government cut spending dramatically anyway, and unemployment decreased.”
He also outlined “crowding out” during his testimony, explaining that when there is a decrease in government spending, private spending increases. Taylor said this is what helps to boost the economy.
It was Taylor’s first testimony in the nation’s capitol. He said he was surprised at the reactions he received.
“Within hours of my testimony I got hateful e-mails and phone calls, but it was a thrill to go to Washington and be a part of this,” Taylor said. “It’s something I’ll always remember.”
Brian Sutter, a legislative assistant to Dave Camp, R-Mich., said Taylor was chosen to participate because of his published essays and to serve as a counterpoint to the Democrats’ testimony.
“He made good points by relating back to the Great Depression and how we can learn from history,” Sutter said.
Toby Roth, director of federal programs, also attended the testimony.
“I’m very proud that we had faculty was called to speak to the committee,” Roth said. “It says a lot of about the credibility of CMU and as far as I can remember Dr. Taylor is the first to be called for something like this.”
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