Etheridge says vote saves 2nd District teacher jobs


Raleigh — U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) voted this week to pass an emergency aid bill to help states save teacher jobs.

The Second Congressional District will receive approximately $60 million from the bill to fund dozens of teacher jobs in every county in the district, according to new information from the state Department of Public Instruction.

“Protecting teacher jobs is fundamental to our economic recovery, and keeping good teachers in our classrooms is key to providing our children a quality education,” said Etheridge. “This jobs bill is about educating our next generation of workers and promoting America’s future economic competitiveness.”

The House voted on Tuesday in an emergency session to pass the legislation. North Carolina will receive nearly $300 million. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan clarified today that the education jobs funds can only be used to retain existing employees, to recall or rehire former employees, and to hire new employees in order to provide early childhood, elementary and secondary education.

The legislation will lower the deficit while not raising taxes. To finance the bill, Congress closed a corporate tax loophole that allowed companies to receive a tax break for outsourcing jobs overseas. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has certified the bill will reduce the deficit by more than $1 billion.

The approximate county breakdown for the Second District is:

  • Chatham — $1,489,328 and 27 teacher jobs
  • Cumberland — $10,382,723 and 189 teacher jobs
  • Franklin — $1,666,810 and 30 teacher jobs
  • Harnett — $3,767,039 and 68 teacher jobs
  • Johnston — $6,560,530 and 119 teacher jobs
  • Lee — $1,942,759 and 35 teacher jobs
  • Nash — $3,364,354 and 61 teacher jobs
  • Sampson — $1,799,407 and 33 teacher jobs
  • Vance — $1,409,375 and 26 teacher jobs
  • Wake — $27,761,681 and 504 teacher jobs
  • “We will not just sit by and watch while teachers across America flood unemployment offices. The education of our children is too important,” said Etheridge.