LANSING – State Representative Mike Simpson (D-Jackson) today called on the Republican-led Senate to take action before adjourning for the weekend and pass a plan that will create more than 29,000 jobs for Michigan workers.
"Nothing is more important that creating jobs for our workers and spurring economic development in our community, Simpson said."Our plan will help prepare our students to compete for the good-paying jobs in the global economy. The Senate can't afford to drag its heels any longer; it must act immediately to get Michigan back on track."
The plan that passed the House last week speeds up funding for hundreds of construction projects at universities, colleges, airports, military facilities and state parks across the state. In addition to creating jobs now for Michigan's workers, the plan also will create new jobs in emerging fields by equipping our colleges and universities with the facilities they need to train students for high-tech jobs in homeland security, life sciences and other cutting-edge fields. Some of the projects include renovating Whiting Hall at Jackson Community College, which will create 350 jobs.
Quick passage of this plan is also essential to securing federal funding for the airport projects involved. The state has until June 30 to obtain the Governor's signature on the plan and go through the required bidding process in order to receive the federal funding that will pay for most of the projects.