New Legislation Would Create 1 Million Jobs

by James Parks, Mar 10, 2010

Members of Congress and a bipartisan group of mayors today announced new legislation they say will create or save up to 1 million public- and private-sector jobs. Jobs saved would include those such as firefighters, police and teachers and others whose jobs are in jeopardy because of local government budget cuts. 

The nation’s economic crisis is forcing states and municipalities to cut jobs that are critically important to local communities. State and local governments and school districts face $178 billion in budget deficits this year alone. Last month, AFSCME members across the country rallied in state capitals to urge legislators to raise revenue to save needed public services. 

The Local Jobs for America Act, developed with mayors, county officials and others, also contains job-creation strategies to enable small businesses to help hundreds of thousands of individuals get private-sector jobs. A bill number has not yet been assigned.

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, made the announcement along with Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Phil Hare (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Kautz, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and  Ronald  Loveridge, president of the  National League of Cities.

Speaking this morning on CNBC, Miller said:

If we lose another million jobs over this year, it’s going to impact our local communities. And these are vital services. They’re health services, fire fighting services, police services, parks and recreation services, health inspections, housing inspections. These are what keep the civil side of America together. To have the loss of these jobs doesn’t serve the national economy and certainly doesn’t serve the local economies and the quality of life in our schools and our communities. 

Specifically, the bill allows for community block grants to local governments to fund jobs providing local services for two years. The money is allocated as follows:

• $75 billion for 750,000 jobs providing needed local services with $52.5 billion directly to communities with at least 50,000 residents.
• $22.5 billion directly to governors to distribute to communities with fewer than 50,000 residents-job creation funding will sent to towns, counties, or private non-profits outside communities eligible for the funding above. Local governments will apply to the governor for the funding.
• $23 billion to help states support an estimated 250,000 education jobs; $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat; and $500 million to hire and retain fire fighters
• $500 million for approximately 50,000 additional on-the-job training positions slots to help private business expand employment.

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