|
Wenatchee area lawmakers
sponsor bill to preserve jobs
Sen. Linda Evans Parlette,
Rep. Mike Armstrong and
Rep. Cary Condotta of the 12th Legislative
District are sponsoring tax relief legislation designed to bolster the
struggling aluminum industry and protect family-wage jobs in many rural
communities across Washington.
“This legislation is critical to saving jobs and preventing the closure
of remaining aluminum plants in Washington by providing temporary tax
incentives until energy costs go down," said Parlette.
Armstrong said the bill
would temporarily reduce the business and occupation tax rate while
providing some sales and use tax and natural gas tax exemptions for
aluminum companies.
These incentives would end
Dec. 31, 2006, after Bonneville Power Administration energy rates are
likely to be lowered.
“This measure would
directly impact the more than 400 jobs tied to the Wenatchee Alcoa
plant,” said Armstrong. “The aluminum industry has suffered a steep
decline as the Northwest's relatively low-cost energy rates have
increased in the past few years.”
Aluminum plants would also
be exempt from the utility tax on purchases of nonfederal power under
the proposed bill.
“Manufacturing jobs are
being lost across the country. This is our chance to save what is
becoming a scarce commodity,” said Condotta. “Alcoa is one of our
greatest assets in the Wenatchee Valley.”
For accountability,
smelters are required to report the number of jobs at the end of the
calendar year to determine the effectiveness of the legislation. If the
plants close, jobs and tax revenue are lost, and tax benefits are moot.
Parlette concluded that
the legislation will preclude losing important jobs, personal income and
tax revenue from the aluminum industry. The bill emphasizes the
importance of these plants to Washington’s economy and makes solid
economic sense, she said.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
|