OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Senate Democrats have unveiled several bills that they say will help create jobs in Washington state.
The package includes tax credits for small businesses that create new staff positions, and retraining 6,000 workers for high-demand jobs. The retraining would cost an additional $11.5 million for the biennium, and the tax credit would cost $5 million.
Last week, Republicans offered up their own jobs package, which focused on reforming the state’s workers compensation system, and giving new businesses tax breaks.
Also last week, the House passed a measure that would have voters decide whether to launch a statewide package of energy-efficient school makeovers in an effort to create jobs.
The state’s most recent unemployment rate is 9.5 percent.
