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House
Leaders Offer $297 Million Job Creation Bill, Welcome Feedback by Cyndi Roy for the State House News Service House leaders unveiled a $297 million economic stimulus plan Thursday that includes money to improve aging cultural facilities, expand access to workforce training and adult basic education, and increase wireless Internet access in downtown areas. The 180-page bill also calls for an investment in the state’s agricultural industry, offers new tax credits to medical device makers, and establishes an anti-fraud initiative that targets those who abuse the state’s unemployment insurance program. Joined at a Beacon Hill press conference by more than two dozen lawmakers, business leaders, and advocates, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said the bill rewards businesses for remaining in Massachusetts during difficult economic times, and encourages out-of-state companies to expand here. “We believe that this legislation will create new jobs and create the atmosphere for the businesses here in Massachusetts to grow as well as to induce companies from out of state to come here and establish their businesses here,” DiMasi said. Massachusetts has recovered from the recession more slowly than most other states and policy makers were startled last December to learn from the U.S. Census Bureau that Massachusetts was the only state to lose residents over a one-year period. The trends have refocused policy makers on job creation ideas. The economy is improving, but Massachusetts lags other states in job creation. While the state has added 40,700 jobs over the last 10 months, it’s just a fraction of the 200,000 jobs lost since February 2001, according to state labor officials. The bill is the product of a “listening tour” that sent committee chairmen Rep. Daniel Bosley, David Torrisi, and Michael Rodrigues across the state to solicit input from business and community leaders. House leaders said action on the bill will not occur until the fall, and they welcome feedback. Business leaders and advocates applauded provisions of the plan targeting workforce development, training and education. The bill includes $6.5 million for adult basic education and English as Second Language programs; establishes an $11 million Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to improve worker skills and incomes and increase the quality of Massachusetts businesses; recapitalizes the Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics pipeline fund at $20 million over five years; and establishes a Performance Standards and Workforce Accountability Task Force to oversee workforce training policies and programs established by the state. |
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