Labor Gets Voice Heard at Public Hearing

Richard Brown, President of the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO, spoke before the a job growth and economic development committee public hearing yesterday in Springfield. The purpose of the hearing, chaired by State Representative Sean Curran, was to gather collect ideas from area labor and business leaders on how to move the Pioneer Valley's economy forward. The hearing was one of several being held across different regions of Massachusetts.

Brown urged the legislators to shoot down a proposal by Governor Romney to shorten unemployment insurance benefits from 30 weeks to 26 weeks. Brown also said Massahcusetts businesses are not overtaxed and that corporate tax loopholes should be closed. He cited statistics that place Massachusetts 49th out of 50 state in corporate tax rates when measured against corporate profits.

Brown was also critical of Governor Romney's MORE Jobs Program, saying that "taxpayers already invest heavily in economic development and job creation through tax breaks, capital investments and direct subsideies." He said Massachusetts has lost a lot of economic incentive money on unfulfilled promises of job creation that companies make in return for the taxpayer subsidies. Brown said the legislation should build in language that holds corpoations responsible on these unment promises.

Finally, Brown called for support of the Workforce Solutions Act of 2005. He said the act, which is backed by labor, community, education, and business interests, "should be at the center of any economic stimulus package." The act has provisions for retraining workers and youth and for English classes for the immigrant population.