Pro-Manufacturing Policies Will Put Virginians to Work By Lieutenant Governor B

Pro-Manufacturing Policies Will Put Virginians to Work By Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling The Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 30, 2011  http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/jan/30/TDCOMM03-pro-manufacturing-policies-will-put-virgi-ar-806642/    Getting our economy moving again and creating jobs are the most important issues currently facing state government. Gov. Bob McDonnell has made me the point person in his administration for creating jobs, and my No. 1 priority is to make Virginia the best state in the nation in which to do business.   While we are targeting a number of strategic economic sectors as a part of our overall job-creation efforts, we want to make certain that Virginia continues to attract quality manufacturing companies. We need to be a state that makes things, not just a state that consumes things.   Virginia has a long tradition of supporting a thriving manufacturing industry. However, during the past decade, the manufacturing sector in America has shed 5.5 million jobs. Here, in the Old Dominion, our once thriving manufacturing sector has fallen on especially hard times.   Unemployment in manufacturing remains high, and our state trails only Ohio, Michigan and South Carolina in the number of manufacturing jobs lost in the past decade. We should be focusing our efforts on the re-establishment of these jobs with smart, pro-growth policies.   In the long term, we will reinvigorate manufacturing by taking a comprehensive approach. We intend to improve the tax and regulatory climate in our state so that we can better compete nationally and globally.   We also want to improve educational opportunities so businesses know that a skilled and educated work force awaits them if they invest in Virginia. And we want to provide the incentives that attract high-quality, advanced manufacturing business to the state.   In the near term, infrastructure investment is the quickest, most effective action we can take to restart manufacturing. By working with our partners at the federal level, we can invest in critical infrastructure by passing a federal highway bill that is responsibly funded, and we can do the same at the state level.   Infrastructure investment is a proven economic engine with lasting results. Not only does it drive growth, it creates lasting benefits. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that 30,000 jobs are created for every $1 billion spent on highway infrastructure, yet we are spending less than 40 percent of what is needed to upgrade our surface transportation system nationwide. In fact, only 3 percent of the U.S. stimulus package was dedicated to rebuilding highways, roads and bridges.   By fast-tracking new construction projects, we can inject economic activity and create jobs in the building industry. Investing in infrastructure drives job growth, productivity and competitiveness in manufacturing. That's why I am supporting efforts like "I Make America" (www.IMakeAmerica.com) - a campaign by equipment manufacturers to urge Congress and the White House to work together to pass a federal highway bill.   For years, Virginia's leaders have talked about building a transportation system for the 21st century, but little has been done. We must improve our transportation infrastructure so our system of roads, rail and bridges can support the needs of Virginia businesses and residents.   This year, Gov. McDonnell has proposed an aggressive transportation plan that is designed to ease congestion and shorten commutes for working Virginians - and allow state businesses to take advantage of the economic opportunities afforded by a state-of-the-art transportation system.   Now is the best time in modern history for Virginia to get this done. Construction costs have fallen, interest rates are at historic lows and our residents need the good jobs that will come with infrastructure projects. The time to act is now.   Virginians need policies that will help them create jobs. Additional investment in transportation and infrastructure is essential to a healthy, growing economy. We must take these actions if we hope to put our families, friends and neighbors back to work.   Bill Bolling is the lieutenant governor of Virginia. He also serves as the state's chief jobs-creation officer. Contact him at ltgov@ltgov.virginia.gov, (804)786-2078 or www.ltgov.virginia.gov.   Carl Ray Louk "FRIENDSHIP NEVER ENDS" SG-1996 "LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY" SG-2000 "THE PHOENIX SHALL RISE" SD "EVEN A MAN WHO IS PURE IN HEART AND SAYS HIS PRAYERS BY NIGHT, MAY BECOME A WOLF WHEN THE WOLFBANE BLOOMS AND THE AUTUMN MOON IS BRIGHT." LT-1941 "FLESH OF MY FLESH; BLOOD OF MY BLOOD; KIN OF MY KIN WHEN SAY COME TO YOU, YOU SHALL CROSS LAND OR SEA TO DO MY BIDDING!" CVTD-1895 "FROM HELL'S HEART I STAB AT THEE, FOR HATE SAKE I SPIT MY LAST BREATH AT THEE" CA-1895  "I HAVE BEEN, AND ALWAYS SHALL BE YOUR FRIEND" Spock  "TRICK OR TREAT, TRICK OR TREAT CANDY IS DANDY BUT MURDER, OH MURDER, IS SO SWEET" CRL-2003  "EYE OF NEWT, AND TOE OF FROG, WOOL OF BAT, AND TONGUE OF DOG ADDER'S FORK, BLIND-WORM'S STING, LIZARD'S LEG, AND OWLET'S WING. FOR A CHARM OF POWERFUL TROUBLE, LIKE A HELL-BROTH BOIL AND BABBLE. DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE, FIRE BURN, AND CALDRON BUBBLE" WS MySpace.com: www.myspace.com/carlraylouk http://www.myspace.com/carlraylouk Yahoo Group: Yahoo! Groups : LouksHauntedGraveyardhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/LouksHauntedGraveyard/ Yahoo Group: Yahoo! Groups : TheWorldAccordingtoCarlRayLouk http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheWorldAccordingtoCarlRayLouk/