Lawmakers say they will revisit ways to fund teaching jobs after a bill aimed at getting more professionals with education experience on their resume back to work was rejected by Senate Republicans. New York Senator Charles Schumer told the Post-Star that the $30 million legislation, the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act, would have saved or created approximately 18,000 teaching jobs in the state and 400,000 nationwide. Following the vote, President Obama issued a statement saying the bill was needed to help the economy rebound. "For the second time in two weeks, every single Republican in the United States Senate has chosen to obstruct a bill that would create jobs and get our economy going again,” Obama stated. "Every American deserves an explanation as to why Republicans refuse to step up to the plate and do what’s necessary to create jobs and grow the economy right now." Democrats said they will introduce another bill aimed at infrastructure investments that could help local economies raise tax revenues and increase local spending on education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities for teachers are expected to increase 13% through 2018. |