American Jobs Act could bring water infrastructure jobs to Arkansas
The purpose of the American Jobs Act is meant to be simple, get more people back on the job and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. But some political parties have a different way of stimulating job growth. A group of Arkansans support America's Job Act and want others to urge congress to vote on it.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- In yet another effort to create jobs, President Obama unveiled the American Jobs Act .
Stimulated by hopes to get the economy moving again, one group of Arkansans is pushing to get it passed. The purpose of the American Jobs Act is meant to be simple, get more people back on the job and put more money in the pockets of working Americans. But some political parties have a different way of stimulating job growth. A group of Arkansans support America's Job Act and want others to urge congress to vote on it.
State Representative Kathy Webb says 16 thousand jobs in Water Infrastructure could come to the state. Webb and other members of the American Federation of State employees met at the Junction Bridge to call attention to President Obama's American Jobs Act. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 188 billion dollars are needed to manage storm water and preserve water quality. Webb says creating jobs in infrastructure will stimulate business in Arkansas.
"When you put someone back to work it has such a ripple effect because those people will be able to go help by things for their family and that will help the economies of the small towns in Arkansas," explains Webb.
According to Green for All 40 percent of rivers and 46 percent of lakes in America are too polluted for fishing and swimming. Webb says the new jobs could help improve water quality and Graham Rich, the CEO of Central Arkansas Water, agrees. "Certainly this would help create jobs through building new water lines a sewer lines like that." Rich says the jobs would come in forms of surveyors, designers and construction.
We wanted to know if anyone in the state is actually against this bill and we did find some people who have issues with it. Glenn Gallas with the Arkansas tax payer league says while he supports the act, he does not support our government paying for it with borrowed dollars.
According to America's report card for Infrastructure our top three concerns are roads, bridges and waste water. They estimate 25 percent of Arkansas' bridges need structure repair.
