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December 6, 2009

Mayor to hold jobs forum Monday

By Liz McMahan

Cutting government regulations on small business and reducing taxes would be the first steps toward boosting job creation, local residents said Friday.

The remarks came in response to Mayor John Tyler Hammons’ request for public input on economic growth. He is gathering comments to include in a report to the White House.

Similar reports were requested from mayors from throughout the nation as a continuation of a discussion begun Thursday by President Barack Obama at a White House jobs forum.

Hammons will continue taking comments online and at a public forum Monday night. He said he plans to compile his report Thursday and have it available for viewing online at www.cityofmuskogee.com by Friday morning.

It will be submitted to the White House later that day, he said. In addition to his written report, he said he plans to forward all e-mails he receives on the topic.

Hammons said he hopes Muskogee residents will offer some good ideas, “not necessarily 30,000-feet-high ideas, but some real specific ideas. Such as, if you had a chance to talk to Obama, if you had the chance to talk to the economic team, what would you tell them?”

Personally, Hammons said he thinks far too much money is spent at the federal level — money that his generation will have to pay back.

“I think that is a huge disincentive to job creation,” he said.

He also said there are too many federal regulations.



If you go



WHAT: Mayor’s forum on jobs and economic growth.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday.

WHERE: Roxy Theater, 220 W. Okmulgee Ave.

ETC.: E-mail comments to jobs@muskogeeonline.org.



Reach Liz McMahan at 918-684-2926 orClick Here to Send Email

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