Warren: New Report on Construction Jobs Highlights Need to Rebuild Now

Massachusetts lost nearly 4000 construction jobs over the past year due to a decrease in support for public infrastructure projects, according to a new report from the Associated General Contractors of America.  U.S. Senate candidate and consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren has put forward a plan to support construction jobs now by improving infrastructure across the Commonwealth.

“This report highlights what we already know – we have construction workers who need jobs and crumbling roads and bridges that need repairs.  Smart investments in transportation, communications, and education infrastructure will not only create jobs now, it will lay the groundwork for a healthier economy for the years to come,” said Warren.  “My opponent Scott Brown has a very different vision.  He has repeatedly voted against bills that would support jobs in the construction industry, turning his back on these workers, their families and the needs of our communities.  We can do better to build a stronger future for workers in Massachusetts and across the nation.”

Last fall, Republican Scott Brown voted three times against jobs bills that would have supported thousands of jobs in Massachusetts, including the American Jobs Act.  [Vote 160,10/11/11; Vote 177, 10/20/11; Vote 195, 11/3/11]  That bill would have supported nearly 11,000 construction jobs in Massachusetts.  [American Jobs Act: Impact for Massachusetts, WhiteHouse.gov, accessed 10/12/11]

Warren’s Rebuild Now plan will:

1. Invest in Air and Surface Transportation
2. Fix America’s Schools
3. Make Wireless Broadband Available
4. Create a National Infrastructure Bank
5. Support the Partnership for Sustainable Communities
6. Give States More Flexibility to use Highway Funds for Transit Projects
7. Reinstate Tax Breaks for Commuters

Each of these investments — in roads, bridges, transit, communications and education — help create the conditions for our small businesses to succeed.

Warren’s plan is fully paid for by her debt and deficit reduction strategy and ending special tax breaks for corporate jets and ending public investment in the oil and gas research and development program. Her deficit reduction plan was found by independent analysts for the Boston Globe to be 67% more effective than Republican Scott Brown’s.

The full plan is available online here.

Related posts:

1. Governor Patrick Highlights Impact Of American Jobs Act On Massachusetts Bridges
2. Overall Bay State Construction Activity Stung By Lack Of Infrastructure Projects
3. Elizabeth Warren to Speak at Kennedy Library Forum
4. Governor Patrick Signs $1.5 Billion Transportation Bond Bill
5. $169 Million Supplemental Budget Bill Promises to Create Hundreds of Jobs and Provide Local Aid to MA Communities

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Posted by jcashman on Aug 17 2012. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry