The new Republican leadership in the Maine Legislature is proposing to create a new “Jobs Committee,” which they say will address issues that affect both organized labor and business.

House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, and Senate President Kevin Raye, R-Perry, made the announcement in a news release Tuesday.

The new committee will be the result of merging the existing Labor Committee and Business, Research and Economic Development Committee, they said. It will have a tight focus on harmonizing the state’s approach to commerce, workforce, and research and development, according to the release.

“In our 21st century economy, both workers and businesses have a shared stake in the future,” Raye said in the release. “Jobs would not exist without business, and business could not exist without workers.”

The Legislature’s Rules Committee — which has jurisdiction over committee changes — will discuss this proposal during a meeting Wednesday.

The full Legislature is scheduled to vote on the plan on Friday.


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