Day650 Saturday 06/09/12

ran 3.1 miles

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) had no kind words yesterday for Bureau of Labor Statistics Acting Commissioner Josh Galvin regarding the official definition of a "green job".

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics a green job is defined as any job that “provides goods or services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources.” This broad and nearly meaningless definition is the only reason Barack Obama has any ability to tout his green jobs agenda. The majority of what he claims to be new green jobs are actually just job jobs, for lack of a better term.

Here are some examples of what defines a green job as approved by Galvin:

10. Floor sweeper at a solar panel factory

The official definition allows for any position that will “reduce or eliminate the creation of waste materials” to be considered a green job. 

9. College professor teaching environmental studies

Any employee who is able to “provide education and training related to green technologies and practices” has a green job, according to the Department of Labor’s definition. 

8. Salvation Army Employee

BLS says products and services that “collect, reuse, remanufacture, recycle, or compost waste materials or wastewater” are considered green jobs. As Issa points out, any type of business that sells used goods is a green job, according to BLS. 

7. An antique Dealer

Same rule applies here as in number six. 

6. A clerk at a bicycle repair shop

Bicycle repair shops also reuse and recycle materials and is determined to be a green job.  

5. Any school bus driver

Just as all forms of mass public transportation, school buses reduce carbon emissions by reducing the number of cars on the road and therefore reducing “greenhouse gas emissions through methods other than renewable energy generation and energy efficiency.” 

4. Any employee who puts gas in a school bus

This one is humorous but confirmed by Department of Labor officials to be a green job. 

3. A full-time teenage employee at a used record shop

The recycled goods clause applies here, therefore it is dubbed a green job.

2. Train car manufacturers

Once again, employees whose job functions “reduce or eliminate the creation of waste materials; collect, reuse, remanufacture, recycle, or compost waste materials or wastewater” have themselves a green job. 

1. And the number one most ridiculous job that the Labor Department considers “green” is… Oil lobbyist.

Galvin confirmed that an oil lobbyist is in fact a green job. It‘s not entirely clear where in BLS’s definition the position falls under, however, the job could possibly be considered to “increase public awareness of environmental issues.”

(Source)

64.5 miles to go.

Here is what happened one year ago on Day285.