Parker’s bill to support manufacturing and retail jobs passes House
6th District lawmaker’s measure now heads to the Senate for consideration
A bill sponsored by Rep. Kevin Parker that would support manufacturing and retail jobs in the state passed off the House floor with strong bipartisan support today. The measure passed 96-0.
House Bill 1663 would remove higher education institutions from the requirement to seek an exemption from the state Office of Financial Management with regards to purchasing from the state Department of Corrections. This means state colleges and universities would not have to purchase furniture from correctional industries.
“The bottom line for this bill is jobs. This measure would support more than 500 private-sector jobs and save the state money in the process. It’s good for our economy and it’s good for our state budget,” said Parker, R-Spokane. “The legislation is the result of collaboration between business owners in Spokane and around the state, colleges and universities, and correctional industries.”
“This is an essential jobs bill,” said Patrick Connor, State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “Thanks to Representative Parker’s efforts, five hundred private-sector jobs will be saved in key industries — like manufacturing and retail — that would otherwise have been lost due to unfair competition from the state.”
House Bill 1663 is now headed to the state Senate for consideration.
The 2011 legislative session is scheduled to run through April 24.
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Contact: John Handy, Deputy Communications Director, (360) 786-5758
