Thursday, February 5, 2009
Politics / Woods Bredesen Says Stimulus Could Save 2,300 Jobs
Posted by Jeff Woods on Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 9:01 AM
First, the federal stimulus package would end the need for 2,300 state layoffs. Then it wouldn't. Now it will again, according to Gov. Phil Bredesen. The confusion raises questions about whether the governor is really paying attention to what's happening in Washington. Anyway, in Kingsport yesterday, he said:
"As a result of the federal stimulus package, it looks like we may be able to reduce that number to zero. We certainly will be able to reduce it to a vastly lower number. I'm old fashioned enough to kind of believe that having a job is at the heart of almost everything. Anything I could possibly do to help state government preserve jobs ... I will certainly try to do. ... It's two-year money. It's not going to continue forever."Also Bredesen said the state can't afford to not take the stimulus money. Are you listening, Jason Mumpower?
"This stimulus money is coming from the taxpayers of the state," Bredesen said. "I think it would be irresponsible of me for them to have to pay and not get any benefit out of it. Certainly I can use some of the stimulus money to mitigate some of the more painful aspects of the cuts we're going to have to make."
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