FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 9, 2012

Jared Mason-Gere (503) 986-1907

Slate of Jobs Bills Moves Forward

Two More Bills to Support Business and Job Growth Pass

SALEM – It has been a good week for jobs legislation in the Oregon House of Representatives as a series of bills designed to support business and facilitate job growth passed their first committees.

The Transportation and Economic Development Act of 2012 (HB 4028) and a bill expanding Oregon’s Credit Enhancement Fund (HB 4150) moved from the House Transportation and Economic Development Committee on Thursday, joining the Oregon Investment Act in a slate of proposals garnering bipartisan and business group support. 

Rep. Dave Hunt (D-Clackamas County), Co-chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Committee, lauded the string of recent successes in his committee. “We’ve worked together in our committee to get as many jobs bills through as we can. The focus this session is helping businesses and middle class Oregonians and we did both this week by passing these bills.”

HB 4028 provides $29.6 million in lottery bond authority to strengthen Oregon businesses and create Oregon jobs by investing $10 million in air, marine, and rail freight mobility infrastructure, $10 million in sewer and water projects, and $9.6 million in community college workforce development capital projects. HB 4150 expands the Credit Enhancement Fund to include non-traded-sector businesses and help them access capital.

“We can unleash Oregon’s potential for business and job growth when the legislature works together to pass smart jobs bills,” said Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton). “These bills will get construction workers on job sites right away and connect capital to growing businesses.”

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