Jobs Now and Capital Budget

 One Washington, with opportunity for all – We believe that everybody deserves a shot at the American Dream. That means building a better Washington – better school and universities, better highways and railroads, better quality of life – so our citizens can win the global race for the best jobs and so our businesses can continue to be world leaders in software, airplanes, agriculture and innovation.

 

 

The best social program is a job.

 

The state construction budget (capital budget, ESB 6074) and the 2012 Jobs Now Act (ESB 5127) are designed to work together, like a hand in a glove, to create jobs in every corner of Washington state.

 

The Economic Opportunity Institute said: “Passing the Jobs Bonds package should be a top priority for Washington’s Legislature during the special session. Rebuilding school facilities, retrofitting for energy efficiency, improving water quality, and cleaning up the environment will immediately create badly needed jobs across the state – and build the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable economy in the future.”

 

You can read the entire report by clicking here.

 

The Problem
While the economy is bouncing back from the global recession, one important sector of our state hasn’t bounced back yet: construction.

 

The chart on the left shows jobs returning to our state, while the chart on the right shows that construction jobs are still missing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unemployment among construction trades is at 30 percent, and it’s even higher east of the mountains.

 

At the same time, there’s never been a greater need – or a better time to build. Our state is growing, meaning we need more elementary schools, university lecture halls and other infrastructure.

 

The lowest interest rates in 50 years – our state just held a bond sale at 3.5 percent – means taxpayers can build more for less money than ever before.

 

 

Jobs Now
To jump-start the economy, House Democrats worked with the Senate on a bipartisan construction budget. Rather than simply doing a typical construction budget, though, we got creative.

 

We took inspiration from what Democratic president Franklin D. Roosevelt did to get America out of the Great Depression and Republican governor Dan Evans did in the 1970s to grow Washington state’s economy during a tough recession in the early 1970s.

 

Both leaders decided that the best way to get people back to work was the direct path: hire people to build things that will benefit taxpayers for generations to come.

 

We proposed a $2 billion package of construction projects to build a better Washington, and a coalition of unions and businesses united behind the idea.

 

After the Senate Republicans used procedural moves to take effective control of the Senate’s budget process, they insisted on delays and cuts that brought the state investment in Jobs Now down to $1.1 billion.

 

The final legislation still creates 18,000 jobs in a hurry.

 

Additionally, the economic development projects built by the construction budget and Jobs Now will generate an additional 9,000 long-term jobs.

 

 

Creating jobs and building a better Washington

  • Today, the number of jobless equals half the population of Seattle
  • The state construction budget and Jobs Now creates 18,000 jobs quickly, in every corner of the state
  • The economic development projects constructed will also create 9,000 long-term jobs
  • It targets the people hit hardest by the recession: construction workers
  • 30 percent unemployment on the west side
  • Up to 50 percent unemployment in some construction trades in eastern Washington
  • This effort will build a better Washington for our kids and grandkids

 

Additional facts:

  • ESB 5127 (2012 Jobs Now Act) authorizes $500 million in new general obligation bonds for projects
  • ESB 6074 (supplemental Capital Budget) authorizes $378,111,000 appropriations and $189,819,000 in certificates of participation.
  • Total $1.1 billion

 

 

Support for the construction budget and Jobs Now:
“A healthy infusion of new jobs, a boost for local economies and a welcome investment in public infrastructure across Washington. Projects in every corner of the state, many of which will attract matching funds to expand both hiring and the to-do list, will range from boat-ramp and bathroom renovations at a state park to road projects and new university science facilities.” — The Seattle Times

 

“Ingenuous job creation in hard times.” — The Tacoma News Tribune

 

“Passing the Jobs Bonds package should be a top priority for Washington’s Legislature during the special session. Rebuilding school facilities, retrofitting for energy efficiency, improving water quality, and cleaning up the environment will immediately create badly needed jobs across the state – and build the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable economy in the future.” — The Economic Opportunity Institute

 

“A smart plan for now and the future.” — The Everett Herald

 

“Tackling additional infrastructure improvements now will put people back to work not only in construction, but across sectors in all parts of the state. Workers newly employed on funded projects will turn around and spend more – on car repair, eating out, health care, home improvement, and other services.” — The Economic Opportunity Institute

 

“Money spent on flood control can save tax dollars, jobs for healthy forests can prevent fires, and funds put into updating fish hatcheries are not only good for the environment but they also fuel a recreational industry. Sewer relocations and culvert projects are part of the basic infrastructure of a functioning economy.” — The Seattle Times

 

 

 

Projects in your community
To find projects in your legislative district or county, please visit this website:

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