Gov. Gregoire�s statement on President Obama�s American Jobs Act

For Immediate Release: September 8, 2011

�As our state and nation continue to recover from the worst economic times in 80 years, I commend President Obama for laying out a targeted and achievable plan to create much-needed jobs while providing necessary relief to our families and businesses.

�Combining ideas supported by both parties, the President has put forward a plan to put more people to work including teachers, veterans, first responders and construction workers, while putting more money in the pockets of working Americans, ensuring a thriving economy. And it won�t add a dime to the federal deficit.

�I�m especially pleased that the President included an idea that my colleagues in the National Governors Association and I have advocated for years � and that�s an Infrastructure Bank. This proposal leverages a small investment to greatly improve our crumbling infrastructure while creating new jobs. And it's ideas like this that put our economy on a long-term, sustainable trajectory.

�Our citizens are still hurting and our businesses are still struggling � and they�re waiting for our leaders to take bold steps to ensure an economic recovery. Improving our economy is not a partisan issue. I urge Congress to work together and quickly take action on the American Jobs Act to help improve the lives of all Americans now and into the future.�