Rep. Haler to hold town meeting for employers to hear input on local job-creation
'This is a time for me to listen. I want to hear ideas from local business owners on how we can get Washington working again,' says Haler
Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland, announced today a series of town meetings and 'walking tours' focused on interacting with local businesses around the Tri-Cities region. The goal, he says, is to gather feedback from the entrepreneurs and business owners who know what's working and what's not in terms of creating more local jobs.
“I have some ideas – many of which we tried to implement during this last legislative session. But this is a time for me to listen to the folks who constitute the backbone of our economy: the small business owners, the mom-and-pop store owners who know what it's like to try and hire new workers or expand operations in this down economy,” said Haler. “I want to hear from local business owners on how we can get Washington working again. If there are some sensible ideas that we think will work, we'll try to put them into legislation to introduce next year during the 2012 legislative session.”
Haler's first town meeting will take place Thursday, Aug. 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the commons area at the Kiona Benton City High School in Benton City.
In September, Haler will hold weekly walking tours in Kennewick, Prosser, West Richland and Richland. Specific times and locations to be announced.
“There's been a lot of talk and focus recently on the national debt limit debate and our own state's budget shortfalls of the last few years,” Haler said. “But I feel there are measures we can take at the state level to help clear the way for employers to add jobs, even if it's one or two at a time. I know the employers and workers in the Tri-Cities are intelligent, thoughtful people. I'm looking forward to hearing their ideas and opinions and taking those back to my colleagues in Olympia. The Legislature's main focus for the foreseeable future should be jobs, jobs, jobs.”
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For more information, contact Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer: (509) 921-2325
