Leahy says stimulus package will create thousands of jobs

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(Host) Senator Patrick Leahy says a new federal economic stimulus package, drafted by the Senate, will help create thousands of new jobs in Vermont.

Leahy’s a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He says he fought to include a number of provisions in the package that are targeted to help rural states like Vermont.

Over two years, Leahy says the stimulus bill would provide Vermont with:

· $250 million for Medicaid

· $135 million for transportation projects

· $125 million to prevent cuts in education and public safety programs

· $90 million in special education and school construction programs

· and several million dollars to expand broadband throughout Vermont.

Leahy says the layoffs at IBM highlight the need to create new jobs in the state.

(Leahy) “We know that Vermont‘s economy and our state budget are caught directly in this economic crisis. Just look at the news today from IBM. If we don’t put people back to work the whole thing fails. When you have tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people being laid off across the country you’ve got to first and foremost put them back to work. You can’t face up to all the other problems of this country unless people have jobs." 

(Host) Leahy cautions that some of the appropriations could change as the bill moves through Congress. But he’s optimistic that the key parts of the plan will be maintained.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the package sometime next week.

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