White House Task Force on Middle-Class Working Families

Impact dates

1. Jan 30, 2010

   First annual report to President due

Key directives

• Establish White House Task Force on Middle-Class Working Families within Office of the Vice President
• Vice President shall serve as Chair
• Department of Labor shall provide funding and administrative support
• Vice President shall designate Executive Director
• Task Force shall produce recommendations on education/training, work-family balance, labor standards, income protection, and retirement security
• Task Force shall conduct outreach with labor, business, nonprofits, and state/local governments
• Task Force shall post outside submissions online and engage in public dialogue
• Annual reports to President beginning 1 year from date of memorandum
• Secretary of Labor shall publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

• Vice President · Executive Office of the President
• Secretary of Commerce · Department of Commerce
• Secretary of Labor · Department of Labor
• Secretary of Health and Human Services · Department of Health and Human Services
• Secretary of Education · Department of Education
• Director of Office of Management and Budget · Office of Management and Budget
• National Economic Council · NEC
• Domestic Policy Council · DPC
• Council of Economic Advisers · CEA

Timeline

Risks & tensions

• Task Force functions are explicitly 'advisory only' — no direct implementation authority
• Funding constrained to 'existing appropriations' and 'permitted by law'
• Potential tension between labor and business stakeholders in outreach process
• Vague scope of 'middle-class' definition may complicate targeted policy development