Gubernatorial Candidates Enslee & McKenna release their Jobs Plans

Washington's Democratic candidate, Jay Enslee, and its Republican candidate Rob McKenna, have each issued a press release outlining their plans for increasing jobs in the state. Enslee's plan is very forward thinking, while McKenna's is a rehash of old policies put forth by the GOP for decades.

Here is a brief comparison:

Enslee
Gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee has released a 30-page jobs plan as part of his campaign for governor. His priorities include clean energy, aerospace, the military, small business, information and communication tech, and agriculture. Representative Inslee (D-WA) serves in the US Congress.

Five pages are devoted to Clean Technology. Read the cleantech portion of the plan here. Included in the plan are recommendations to:

•Lead the country in the development and production of advanced sustainable biofuels;
•Update the Energy Independence Act;
•Electrify transportation;
•Remove barriers for renewable energy projects;
•Foster the growth of clean energy/technology companies;
•Align tax incentives to encourage investment in clean technology startups;
•Facilitate technology commercialization activities at our research institutions and drive investment into local companies;
•Create jobs through home and building efficiencies;
•Align utility and customer interest in energy efficiency;
•Attract and leverage public- and private sector capital; and
•Adopt a hands-on approach to recruitment and support for the industry.
Also included in the plan are the proposals to:

• Creation of a new cabinet-level Office of Economic Competitiveness and Development;
•Focus on small business including tax relief for clean energy;
•Investing in regional procurement technical assistance centers (PTACs).
•Improving education and worker training;
•Emphasizing export development.
Here is the full plan from Inslee.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/80816631/Inslee-Building-a-New-Economy-for-Washington

McKenna
Republican candidate for Washington State Governor Rob McKenna, in releasing his job creation proposal, says that “If you don’t have a job in this economy, nothing else really matters.” McKenna is the incumbent Washington State Attorney General. McKenna says that his goals include:

•Reducing the state unemployment rate;
•Reducing burdens that hold back existing employers and make Washington less attractive to potential employers; and
•Giving relief to small businesses by improving regulations and the tax structure.
McKenna’s specific proposals include:

•Competitive tax reform;
•Eliminate the workers compensation insurance monopoly;
•Responsible regulation; and
•Liability reform.

McKenna argues that the state needs new leadership with a "new attitude" towards both the economy and job creation.

If you ask me, it looks like McKenna's "new additude" is very much an old additude. Tax subsidies to big business, privating workers' compensation, deregulation of industry, and eliminating injured person's rights to seek redress, i.e. "Tort Reform."

http://www.robmckenna.org/newdirection/jobs