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With all the attention and focus of the U.S. on the situation in the Middle East, the concern of most Americans is the state of the U.S. economy.  Jobs are being created but are paying 23% less than the last recession in 2001-2002.

A report released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Jobs gained during the economic recovery from the Great Recession pay an average 23% less than the jobs lost during the recession according to a new report released today, under the leadership of President Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. The annual wage in sectors where jobs were lost during the downturn was $61,6 37, but new jobs gained through the second quarter of 2014 showed average wages of only $47,171. This wage gap represents $93 billion in lost wages.

The report continued to highlight, “While the economy is picking up steam, income inequality and wage gaps are an alarming trend that must be addressed,” said U.S. Conference of Mayors President Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “This Task Force, led by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, will recommend both national and local policies that will help to give everyone opportunity. We cannot put our heads in the sand on these issues,” he said.  “The nation’s mayors have an obligation to do what we can to address issues of inequality in this country while Washington languishes in dysfunction.

Everyone would agree the gap of income inequality is growing and making it difficult for the American family, but the question then comes down to what is the solution?

Washington is dysfunctional with both Republican and Democrats locked in a perpetual partisan war, all the while Americans suffer.

We still do not have any comprehensive tax reform, and haven‘t had one since 1986.  Polices by the Federal Reserve and Washington have contributed to this sense of hopeless experienced throughout the country.

These are questions that need to be addressed during the upcoming mid-term elections, but definitely have to be asked of any candidate vying for president in 2016.