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State Representative Tim Mahoney
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4277
For more information contact: Charlie Vander Aarde 651-297-8406
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JOBS BILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MISPLACED GOP PRIORITIES
(ST. PAUL) – State Representative Tim Mahoney (DFL-St. Paul) reacted today to the Jobs and Economic Development Conference Committee Report that was expected to be debated on the House floor.
“House Republicans today continued their abandonment of job creation. Their jobs and economic development package does nothing to employ 200,000 workers across Minnesota. Misplaced priorities of the Republicans are apparent in this bill. I ran a campaign last fall focused on getting Minnesotans back to work. Republicans have turned their back on unemployed Minnesotans. The so-called Jobs bill does nothing but cut job creation in Minnesota. It cuts every tool the state has to help businesses throughout Minnesota expand their operations, become more competitive and increase their workforce.
“The DFL is committed to employing Minnesotans now while preparing for the future economy. The GOP has chosen to eliminate the state Trade Office which helps Minnesota companies expand into global markets. 75 percent of the world’s purchasing power is outside the U.S. It’s a nominal yet effective investment in the future growth of Minnesota’s businesses.
“The jobs bill slashes funding for outside organizations that help small businesses grow jobs and train workers. This includes the BioBusiness Alliance, Enterprise Minnesota, the Minnesota Inventors Congress and the Metropolitan Economic Development Association.
“Contamination clean-up grants take a huge funding cut, limiting the ability of communities to restore toxic sites to productive land. These programs, which help communities invest in economic growth, are held to flat funding, limiting redevelopment opportunities. These are smart programs that return 400-500 percent for every state dollar. Redevelopment is key to attracting companies to old, polluted sites throughout Minnesota and increasing the tax base. These grants create jobs during cleanup, construction and upon completion.
“The GOP budget priorities leave workers behind. Poor decisions lead to job cuts and missed opportunities. This bill leaves $11 million in federal matching dollars on the table for the first time ever. These are dollars that help disabled workers find and keep jobs, rather than staying home and watching TV all day. Facing a $5 billion deficit, Minnesota can not afford to say thanks but no thanks to federal money that provides jobs.
“The attack on businesses continued yesterday, when the tax bill passed. Republicans spoke endlessly and passionately about supporting small businesses in Minnesota and growing jobs and encouraging out-of-state companies to locate in Minnesota, instead of Iowa. This bill shows all of those speeches were nothing but talk. The tax bill will result in an increase of over $1 billion in new property taxes being levied. These poor choices make it hard for businesses to hire.
“We are behind in creating jobs. We are lagging other states and other countries. We had an opportunity this year to position Minnesota for the future but the GOP squandered this opportunity."
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News Items
- House Passes Robust Jobs Bill to Spur Statewide Job Creation - (Posted: Apr 15 2013 9:36PM)
- DFL Legislators Introduce the “Contraceptive Equity Act” - (Posted: 2012-03-07 00:00:00)
- DFL Jobs Initiatives to be Heard in House Jobs and Economic Development Committee - (Posted: 2012-02-29 00:00:00)
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