Oregon Public Broadcasting

Just as Congress took up an $825 billion economic stimulus package, state lawmakers in Oregon gave the initial go-ahead to a plan of their own.  

The Oregon Senate agreed Wednesday to borrow $176 million in hopes of creating 3000 jobs.  Salem correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

Backers say the spending plan will put people to work right away doing things like repairing sidewalks or installing rain gutters.  The work will be done at state properties in all 36 Oregon counties.

Republicans criticized the plan because it puts the state into deeper debt.  They also questioned the value of some of the items on the 12 page list of projects.  

But Democratic Senator Margaret Carter of Portland said this isn’t the time to get wrapped up in the nitty gritty details of the stimulus plan.

Sen. Margaret Carter:  “This is about the little man who has no means of making it, and they’re depending on you and me to do some unusual things.”

Democrats say the plan will create three-thousand short-term jobs, many in a matter of weeks.  The state lost three times that many jobs in December alone.  The Oregon stimulus package now heads to a vote in the House.

Online:

See the projects slated for funding under the Oregon Stimulus Package