RALEIGH -- An economic development strategy promoted by the state's junior senator Monday will seek to help thousands of rural North Carolinians and the state's ailing economy.
U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., said in a press conference that the Edwards Economic Revitalization Plan will provide assistance to workers who lose their jobs and aid the struggling textile industry.
Edwards and Gov. Mike Easley announced the three-fold plan Monday, although details are vague.
The first aspect of the plan concerns workers who lose their jobs because of foreign trade. Those workers are entitled to 104 weeks, or two years, of federally funded job training. But workers who fall under this category only receive 90 weeks of supplemental income, forcing many to suspend their training in order to pursue jobs.
Edwards said he would like to increase the amount of time workers can receive the supplemental income to match the length of training.
Edwards said it is also essential to cut the bureaucratic red tape by making one organization responsible for handling all cases and cutting down waiting periods. "We intend to make a provision that says if you're a textile worker and you lose your job, you automatically qualify," he said.
"This is not an abstract academic problem. People are losing their jobs; they have no place to go. We have to take the steps necessary to protect our rural way of life here in North Carolina."
Another part of the legislation is an attempt to woo corporations and businesses to struggling parts of North Carolina by offering accelerated capital gains tax write-offs to reduce tax burdens.
The third aspect of the plan is to increase international trade barriers in favor of American citizens.
