Every politician is talking about jobs these days. McInnis has posted billboards touting himself as the Jobs Governor. We SHOULD be talking about Jobs; there aren’t enough of them to go around. I’m proud of my national record of helping to create over 40,000 jobs over the last 15 years. I’ll stand toe to toe with the best of them on this issue.
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel today reported on a study by Brookings Mountain West, a partnership between the Brookings Institution and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. The report highlights the fact that for the first time in 30 years the Intermountain West lags the nation in jobs recovery. Authors of the report blame a lack of migration into the area. A lack of migration means that no new houses are built and older homes don’t sell. The policy director of Brookings Mountain West is quoted as saying, “So what’s broken down is the traditional real-estate-based growth machine.” He continues by saying, “The West needs to develop a new game.”
Here’s the good news. Colorado is busy developing a new game. Last Friday Governor Ritter signed into law House Bill 1328, known as the New Energy Jobs Creation Act. The bill designates all of Colorado as a new energy improvement district. The designation makes it possible for Colorado homeowners to finance clean energy improvements to their home, and pay for them over time (up to 20 years) through property tax assessments. The loan program will be funded by up to $800 million in bonds.
Western Colorado has lots of unemployed construction workers who could go back to work installing products that make energy use in local homes more efficient. Homeowners benefit by seeing lower energy bills. The US benefits by lower dependence on foreign oil. Now we need the same kind of program to help small businesses retro-fit their company homes with energy saving products.
If elected, I’ll work hard to ensure these kinds of game-changing programs are developed and implemented. It is what I’ve been doing for the past 15 years.
Homework:
Senate District 7 Lagging in Jobs Recovery
New Energy Jobs
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel today reported on a study by Brookings Mountain West, a partnership between the Brookings Institution and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. The report highlights the fact that for the first time in 30 years the Intermountain West lags the nation in jobs recovery. Authors of the report blame a lack of migration into the area. A lack of migration means that no new houses are built and older homes don’t sell. The policy director of Brookings Mountain West is quoted as saying, “So what’s broken down is the traditional real-estate-based growth machine.” He continues by saying, “The West needs to develop a new game.”
Here’s the good news. Colorado is busy developing a new game. Last Friday Governor Ritter signed into law House Bill 1328, known as the New Energy Jobs Creation Act. The bill designates all of Colorado as a new energy improvement district. The designation makes it possible for Colorado homeowners to finance clean energy improvements to their home, and pay for them over time (up to 20 years) through property tax assessments. The loan program will be funded by up to $800 million in bonds.
Western Colorado has lots of unemployed construction workers who could go back to work installing products that make energy use in local homes more efficient. Homeowners benefit by seeing lower energy bills. The US benefits by lower dependence on foreign oil. Now we need the same kind of program to help small businesses retro-fit their company homes with energy saving products.
If elected, I’ll work hard to ensure these kinds of game-changing programs are developed and implemented. It is what I’ve been doing for the past 15 years.
Homework:
Senate District 7 Lagging in Jobs Recovery
New Energy Jobs
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